OXFORD City grabbed three crucial Skrill North points in their relegation fight by winning 2-0 away to fellow strugglers Gloucester City last night.

It means they closed the gap on Stalybridge Celtic and Histon to just two points and Mike Ford’s men have games in hand on both of them.

It was a workmanlike performance from City, who had the better of a first half that produced few clear-cut chances and in the end it was two substitutes who sealed it for them.

Tom Winters went close and Darren Pond just failed to get a touch to a Dave Mullings cross as City pressed .

For the home side, Matt Groves fired two efforts straight at City keeper Mark Scott, who dealt with them comfortably, while Pond cleared a Charlie Griffin effort off the line.

After the break, Pond was only inches away from putting City ahead, but the visitors did break the deadlock after 56 minutes.

Mike Symons sent Winters away down the flank and he ran on to drive the ball past keeper Mike Green.

Substitute Viv Solomon-Otabor gave Pond the chance to make it 2-0 with a fine cross, but Green saved.

City were not to be denied, however, and made sure of the three points in stoppage time.

Steve Basham, who had come on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Symons, made his presence felt by setting up Solomon-Otabor, who fired past keeper Green to give City fresh hope of avoiding the drop.

Oxford City: Scott, Benjamin, Stonehouse, Pook, Learoyd, Preece, McEachran (Solomon-Otabor 70), Mullings, Symons (Basham 82), Pond, Winters. Subs not used: Cook, jackson, Bulman.

Referee: S Knapp.

Attendance: 303.