A hat-trick by Ray Spence moved City to within one point of winning the Spartan South Midlands League championship after a 3-0 win against Leverstock Green on Saturday.

This result means avoiding defeat in their final game next Saturday will give them the title.

In the first opening minutes at Leverstock Green, City keeper Carl Wilkins made an excellent save, turning round a good strike from Mark Welling, but from then on he was rarely troubled.

With eight minutes gone, Spence thought he had scored when lobbing the oncoming keeper, but the bounce of the ball saw it strike the bar.

On 34 minutes City deservedly took the lead when Justin Miller put away Spence, who then cut inside, before netting an exquisite goal with the outside of his boot, just inside the upright.

Four minutes into the second half he scored his and City's second, taking advantage of a hesitant defence to deceive the keeper with the flight of his shot.

City were well in control of the game, and the home side had no answer to the determination of a side, aiming to cap a successful season.

On the hour, Spence outstripped the defence and hammered home his hat-trick to put his side in touch of a cup and league double in a week's time.

Oxford City: Wilkins, Durrant, Pilling, Marriott, Craker, Merritt, Burnley, Brandon, Miller (Jones, 60), Spence (Keen, 80), Gardner (Potter 71). Subs not used: Steedman, Douglas.