A double from Dave Lawrence helped Didcot Town climb off the bottom of the Zamaretto Southern League Premier Division with a deserved 3-0 victory over Oxford City in last night’s derby at Court Place Farm.

Didcot, with new boss Ady Williams at the helm, showed more urgency and better finishing than City, who lacked a cutting edge.

Previous derby encounters between these sides have been lacklustre – but this was a fiercely fought clash with City duo Andy Ballard and Michael Lyon booked before half-time for rash challenges.

City started brightly with two Adam Mekki corners cleared with some difficulty by Sam Warrell.

Didcot, who before the game were bottom after Windsor’s record was expunged, had a great chance to open the scoring on four minutes after Ballard brought down Josh Huggins, but Jakub Jesionkowski easily saved Eliott Osborne-Ricketts’s weak penalty But the visitors didn’t have to wait long to go ahead, Lawrence firing home after bursting between two defenders.

City struggled to put attacks together, though Didcot's backline defended stoutly, with Andy Williams and Alex Stanley outstanding.

City winger Michael Lyon saw his terrific shot go just over the Didcot bar after good work from Lee Steele After the break, Didcot came out looking for a second, though Mekki saw his drive deflected for a corner.

City kept up the pressure, with Steele blasting over from close range.

Wayne Blossom should have levelled, but his shot was blocked as City tried to force an equaliser.

On 70 minutes, Lawrence curled in his second of the night from outside the area past the despairing dive of Jesionkowski.

City substitute Ashley Kington headed over, before Michael Bartley beat Jesionkowski to make it 3-0 a minute into injury time as Didcot celebrated their first win for six games.

Oxford City: Jesionkowki, Clarke, Ballard, Malone (Hughes 73), Savage, Blossom, Faulkner (Barcelos 59), Mekki, Lyon (Kington 45), Steele, Organ. Subs not used: Davis, Hughes, Barcelos.

Didcot Tn: Warrell, Heapy, M Williams, Alexis, A Williams, Stanley, Mutero, Huggins, Bartley, Lawrence (Tabor 85), Osborne-Ricketts (Castello 75). Subs: Castello, Bucknor, Griffin, Tabor, Halls.

Attendance: 315.