OXFORD City’s Buildbase FA Trophy run ended with a 1-0 defeat at Maidstone United on Saturday.

A solitary first-half strike from Jack Richards saw Mark Jones’s side exit the competition in the second round.

The opening period took a while to ignite, but the hosts created the first chance when Jack Richards fired narrowly wide.

City’s first sight of goal saw Ben Barrett, handed a first start, and Craig Fasanmade combine, but Kabongo Tshimanga’s shot was blocked.

The hosts had a big shout for a penalty on 25 minutes when Richards went down under an Eddie Jones challenge, but Maidstone’s appeals were waved away.

City lost Ben Jefford to a suspected broken foot on 35 minutes, and just a minute later conceded what proved the only goal of the game.

Jack Paxman’s cross found Richards, who had the simple task of finishing past the helpless keeper Craig King, who the previous day had signed an extended deal to stay at the club for another season.

The visitors went on the attack before the break and Tshimanga raced through on goal and appeared to be bundled over by Rob Swaine in the box on 43 minutes.

But the referee again waved play on.

City continued on the front foot after the break, Josh Ashby firing just over with a shot from distance.

Substitute Zac McEachran went close 20 minutes from time, but the midfielder failed to get a good connection on his shot after linking up well with Tshimanga.

Fellow replacement Kunle Otudeko tried his luck four minutes from time, but missed the target as City’s push for an equaliser proved in vain.

Jones’s side next host Gloucester City on Saturday.

Oxford City: King, Jones, Jefford (Carter 35), Ashby, Godwin-Malife, Oastler, Fasanmade, Fleet, Tshimanga, Barrett (McEachran 59), Bawling (Otudeko 78). Subs not used: Grantham, O’Donoghue.

Attendance: 1,156.