Oxford City 4, Chorley 0: Afternoon to forget for the Magpies as Oxford hit four
Chorley were second best in Oxfordshire as Oxford City ran out comfortable winners, handing Andy Preece and his side an afternoon to forget.
The Hoops scored twice in each half, with in-form striker Tyrone Marsh scoring twice alongside goals from Scott Pollock and Briar Bateman.
Forced into changes by injuries to Adam Blakeman and Billy Whitehouse, Chorley made a bright start and almost caught the hosts cold, Mike Calveley firing narrowly wide.
Both sides began at a high tempo, but Oxford gradually took control, with Marsh providing the first warning, only to be denied by an offside flag.
City continued to press and Li-Bau Stowell was forced into a smart save to keep out Josh Ashby before the hosts broke the deadlock on 32 minutes.
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Marsh reacted quickest after Stowell could only parry Bateman’s cross, turning the loose ball home.
Chorley almost levelled before the break when Steven Bala struck the post, but their hopes were soon dealt another blow as Oxford countered from a Chorley corner, Pollock finishing clinically to double the advantage.
Preece looked for a response after the interval, but City extended their lead just three minutes into the second half when Bateman’s long-range effort took a wicked deflection and looped beyond Stowell.
Bala again went close from distance, only for Maxted to make a sharp save, before Marsh got Oxford's fourth goal, sliding in from close range to claim his second.
Chorley must now regroup quickly ahead of Tuesday night’s home clash with Darlington.
Chorley: Stowell, Henley, Smith (Bird 53'), Hunt, Clarke (Cummins 81'), M. Wilson (Hazlehurst 58'), Fielding, Calveley, Bala, Salmon (Rowe 58'), Taylor (Popoola 71'). Subs not used: Moore.