IT was a tale of two halves for Oxford City, as they threw away a 3-0 lead to draw with Bath City at Court Place Farm.

Josh Parker scored his first two goals for the Hoops as they blew away Bath in a commanding first half performance.

The forward netted either side of a Klaidi Lolos penalty in a half where the Hoops were in complete control.

In the second period though, the home side conceded three times on a frustrating afternoon.

The hosts started the day 11th in Vanarama National League South, having lost their last three in the league, while Bath began the afternoon in sixth, three points inside the play-off places.

The trio of defeats for Ross Jenkins’ side all came on the road, against Welling United, Chippenham Town and Chelmsford City.

The head coach named an unchanged side from the team that won last weekend, in the 2-1 victory at Salisbury which secured a place in the Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Lolos in the opening minutes, with the forward allowed space inside the penalty box, to fire a shot into the side netting.

That was followed up with by the opening goal, with just eight minutes on the clock when Parker grabbed his first goal for the Hoops.

The former Oxford United striker ran onto a ball over the top and finished with aplomb past Joe Wright in the Bath goal.

The visitors sought a quick response with Cody Cooke sending a shot into the side netting when well placed in the penalty area.

However, the hosts were able to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty on 20 minutes.

Aaron Williams-Bushell fell under the challenge of Tom Smith, before Lolos sent Wright the wrong way from 12 yards.

With half an hour played, Parker was given the chance to grab his second goal for City but he headed narrowly over from Reece Fleet’s cross from the right.

Injury forced the away side into a substitution shortly before the break when Joe Raynes was replaced by Luke Spokes, before Parker netted his second goal for the Hoops on the cusp of half-time.

The 31-year-old was on hand to pounce in the six-yard box from a Josh Ashby cross, as City put the icing on a clinical first half performance.

Chris Lines went off for Rex Mannings shortly before the hour as Bath sought a route back into the game but it was the Hoops who had the first clear opportunity in the second period.

The home side broke down the right side, with a cross finding Parker who fired low into the gloves of Wright.

Bath were able to pull a goal back when substitute Mannings fired home from outside the box, just after the hour mark.

Olly Sanderson was then replaced by Gerald Muchechetere, while Alfie Potter came on for Parker, as Jenkins shuffled his pack.

Moments later though, Alex Fletcher was played through clean on goal and fired low past Ben Dudzinski as Bath brought themselves to within one goal of City.

Canice Carroll was then penalised for a handball inside the penalty box with Cooke dispatching past Dudzinski, to level proceedings.

Fletcher had the chance to complete an improbable comeback however his header was well held by Dudzinski.

With five minutes left to play, the game was disrupted for almost 10 minutes when the referee went down with an injury and a replacement official found to run the line.

That led to a lengthy period of stoppage time, however neither side were able to find a winner.

Oxford City: Dudzinski; Williams-Bushell, Carroll, Harrison, Coyle; Ashby, Fleet; Lolos, McEachran (Fischer 79), Parker (Potter 65); Sanderson (Muchechetere 65).