Oxford City 3

(Yussuf 59, 69, Wilson 66)

Leamington 1

(Goddard 87)

Oxford City took immediate revenge on Leamington with a home win in Vanarama Conference North yesterday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

There was little to separate the two sides, but for a devastating ten-minute spell midway through the second half in which Adi Yussuf netted twice either side of Lewis Wilson’s volley for City.

Leamington did pull one back through Jordan Goddard, but it was too little, too late.

City started much brighter than in their 4-0 defeat in Warwickshire on Boxing Day, but found their route to goal blocked by a stubborn defence.

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They came close to breaking the deadlock after 15 minutes when Jack Edwards’s tackle on Javier Rodriguez flew goalwards before striking a post.

The visitors grew into the game and carved out some dangerous chances of their own.

Lee Moore wasted a golden opportunity to give them the lead, scuffing from five yards out after Matt Dodd’s cross.

Moore was again inches from opening the scoring shortly after the break, volleying narrowly wide from close range.

But City then took control with three goals in quick succession, with Tom Winters instrumental in them all.

First, he outpaced right back James Fry before pulling the ball back for Yussuf to guide home for the opener.

Winters then crossed for Wilson to volley home the second seven minutes later.

And 90 seconds later it was 3-0 when a Winters cross was cut out by Edwards, only for Yussuf to pinch the ball and poke it in at the near post.

Winters could have scored himself when he ghosted in to meet a deep cross, but Lewis Fenney did well to tip his effort over the bar from point blank range.

Leamington had the final say, pulling a goal back in bizarre circumstances when Goddard’s looping effort somehow evaded goalkeeper Salva de la Cruz and dropped beneath the bar.

But that did little to diminish City’s spirits as they got 2015 off to a winning start ahead of a trip to Chorley on Sunday.

Oxford City: Salva, Benjamin, Lapoujade, Del Alamo (Fofana 79), Henderson, Santiago, Wilson, Pond, Yussuf (Pearson 83), Rodriguez (Barcelos 77), Winters. Subs not used: Scott, Stonehouse.

Referee: A Coggins.

Attendance: 405.

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