Oxford City 2, Walton & Hersham 3

Recent signing Steve Arkins was sent off as Oxford City let slip a two-goal lead to go down to their first home defeat of the season in Ryman Division 1 last night.

City went ahead in the 13th minute when Arkins's powerful run set up John Mitchell to shoot low past Walton keeper Gerrard.

Two minutes later, the hosts notched a splendid second when Stuart Nelson's long free kick found Shaun Wimble and his deep cross was headed home at the far post by former Maidenhead man Arkins.

As City dominated, Michael Thorp had a header cleared off the line and Mitchell fired over from 30 yards.

City's appeals for a penalty came to nothing when Arkins appeared to be bundled over and just before half time, Nelson saved at the feet of both Cory and Harkness.

But, straight from the restart, Harkness shot past Nelson, and in the 50th minute he equalised when his shot deflected off Thorp to wrongfoot City's keeper.

As City responded, Mitchell shot just wide. However, with Chris Organ injured on the hour, City were caught again down their right flank and Savage's cross was driven in by Pearson.

With Andy Smith another injury casualty with 20 minutes left, City's hopes of a comeback suffered another blow when Arkins was sent off for retaliation after an elbow from Whelan.

Just before time, City saw their last chance disappear as Kamran Abassi headed over leaving the visitors to keep up their 100 per cent away record.

**Oxford City: Nelson, Farley (Abassi 65), Dark, Smith (McCrae 69), Thorp, Organ (Ferreira 56), Lewis, Whitehead, Arkins, Mitchell, Wimble.