Oxford City 1, Clevedon 3: Oxford City's wretched home form came back to haunt them as they were relegated from Southern League Division 1 West following their 13th defeat of the season at Court Place Farm.

To make matters worse, City, who were watched by a crowd of 416, had Andy Ballard sent off in the second half as frustration crept in.

Agonisingly, if City had won they would have stayed up as fellow relegation candidates Bracknell lost 4-3 at Sutton Coldfield.

Saturday's match, the first home game City have played since the death of defender Robin Antonowicz following a car crash was preceded by a minute's silence, with players from both sides wearing black armbands.

Needing victory to have any chance of staying up, City, who have won just three home league games all season - and seven in the last two seasons - understandably started nervously.

With only minutes gone, Dean Stevens fired inches wide as the home side, who were without the experienced duo of midfielder Nando Perna, striker Colin Simpson and first-choice keeper Matt Finlay, failed to clear their lines.

The visitors, who take on Bromsgrove in the play-offs today, kept up the pressure with Steve Lester heading the 15th-minute opener.

To City's credit, they responded in perfect fashion, Mark Simms lobbing over the keeper a minute later from a terrific through ball from Adam Durrant as Clevedon's defence went to sleep.

City then started to dominate, creating a number of good chances, mainly through Ronnie Joe and Simms, but they lacked enough power to trouble the keeper.

Just before the break, City had some luck when Wayne O'Sullivan's goalbound free-kick hit Leon Hapwood on the back of the head.

In the second half, Simms should have put City ahead, but somehow miskicked in front of goal after a cross from the excellent Garath McCleary fizzed across the box.

That miss was to prove crucial later on.

City suffered a blow on 50 minutes when the impressive Durrant was stretchered off with an injured right leg after a heavy late challenge by O'Sullivan for which he was booked.

Eight minutes later, Clevedon took the lead through Tom Jacobs when Durrant's replacement, Ben Freeman, carelessly gave the ball away in midfield.

Simms was denied by a superb save from Scott Corderoy before City's hopes virtually ended on 68 minutes as Ballard was sent off for violent conduct after appearing to stamp on a Clevedon player.

And a minute later, it was all over for City when Jacobs headed his second, again after the defence failed to clear their lines.

It could have been worse for City. Their former Thame keeper, Milan Barisic, who was making his full debut, made some fine saves, the best of which denied Jacobs his hat-trick.

At the final whistle, City's troops, who had given their all, slumped to the ground as news came through of Bracknell's defeat.

Oxford City: Barisic, Takriti, Steedman, Durrant (Freeman 50), Brown, Doyle (Keyes 76), Ballard, Lee, Joe, Simms, McCleary (Douglas 75).

Attendance: 416.

Before the game, the chairman of Clevedon, John Croft, presented City chairman Brian Cox with a signed shirt and a donation which will be shared between the late Robin Antonowicz's chosen charities.