Oxford City returned to the top of the British Gas Business Division 1 South & West with a hard-fought 2-0 win in the west country last night.

Paulton dominated the first half, but City had a lucky escape on 33 minutes, when Mark Avery brought down a Paulton player, but Ben Cleverley's penalty hit the foot of a post.

In the second half, City upped the tempo, but it wasn't until 78 minutes that City opened their account, Jon Gardner hammering home from 15 yards after good work from Liam Malone and Ikechi Anya.

City sealed victory three minutes later when Malone's shot took a deflection before looping up over Dave Dyson in the Paulton goal.

Oxford C: Smith, Saulsbury, Cattell (Woodruffe 55), Gunn, Pond, Avery, Gardner, Malone, McSporran, Redknap (Anya 61), Bell (Jones 67).

Attendance: 179.

Michaes Herbert, Tom Franklin, Ryan Curtin and Ryan Brooks return for Abingdon United's trip to Farnborough tonight.

Jamie Brooks (hamstring) misses out.

Abingdon Utd: from Wilkins, Moss, Organ, Woodley, McCalmon, Carbon, Alexis, Beechers, Holden, Odhiambo, Mills, Druce, O'Hara, Tricker, Hemmings, Modu.