After a promising first half hour, Welling United were defeated at Oxford City.

Both teams came close in the opening exchanges. Aaron Williams-Bushell sent Josh Ashby away down the right hand side and his low diagonal cross was just out of the reach of Josh Parker.

Then, at the other end, Taylor Maloney delivered a free kick that found George Alexander and his flicked header was turned over brilliantly by goalkeeper Adnan Kanuric. Maloney took the corner and picked out Kodi Lyons-Foster but he headed wide.

Alexander did well to keep an attack alive and pulled it back to Stefan Payne whose header was deflected over then Payne’s shot was blocked when the Hoops struggled to clear the corner.

Lewis Coyle’s long range shot was saved comfortably by Welling goalkeeper Myles Roberts and he was again called into action to make a straight-forward save from an effort by Williams-Bushell after Zac McEachran had been halted.

He had to make a further save when beating out a shot by Lewis Coyle who had received a cross-field pass by Parker before Oxford went ahead. Klaioi Lolos found lots of space at the edge of the area and his low strike squirmed under Roberts and into the net.

Lolos almost added a second when Lyons-Foster’s clearance struck him and rebounded wide before Welling had the last attempt of the first half when his drive flew well over.

Any hopes that Welling had of regrouping and getting back into the match were thwarted when they went further behind immediately after the break. McEachran was sent clear by Ashby and he never looked like missing, tucking it confidently beyond Roberts.

After that, the Wings huffed and puffed without creating too much. Ade Azeez headed over from a Maloney cross and, at the other end, Roberts saved from William-Bushell.

However, Welling were given a potential lifeline midway through the second half when they were awarded a penalty. Payne was brought down by Coyle and referee Ross Martin pointed to the spot. The normally reliable Maloney stepped up but Kanuric went the right way and made the save.

That appeared to knock any remaining confidence out of Welling and Oxford had the better of the remainder of the match. Parker curled over after McEachran sent him away then Roberts saved well from McEachran after he had claimed Ashby’s pass.

Lolos fired well over after being set up by McEachran and the best that Welling could manage was a shot by Dylan Gavin that was blocked away.

McEachran shot well wide, then Lolos side-footed straight at Roberts from Ashby’s pull back.

Parker teed up Coyle but he couldn’t keep his shot down before Roberts made a great save from a Parker free kick.

In time added on, Oxford rubbed salt into Welling’s wound. Having given the ball away in their own half, it was fed through to Parker and he slotted it beyond a stranded Roberts.

On Monday, Welling are playing an exhibition match against an American Universities eleven before they return to league action next Saturday at Slough Town.

Oxford City: Kanuric; Parker, Miccio, Ashby, Burley, Carroll, Williams-Bushell, Fleet, Carroll, McEachran, Lolos.

Subs not used: Davies, Iaciofano, Carbon, Humphrey-Ewers, Grantham.

Goalscorers: Lolos (33), McEachran (47), Parker (90+2)

Yellow cards: None

Welling United: Roberts, Barnes (Kassarate 72), Ezennolim, Dunne, Sendles-White, Lyons-Foster, Elito, Alexander (Gavin 55), Payne, Azeez, Maloney (Lisbie 81).

Sub not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Parry.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Dunne, Lyons-Foster

Referee: Ross Martin

Assistants: Simon Parberry and Neal Templey

Attendance: 560

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.