Wantage Town suffered a 3-0 home defeat to high-flying Oxford City Nomads in the AM Print & Copy Floodlit Cup quarter final on Tuesday night.
The Hellenic Premier league strugglers failed to cope with the visitors energy and pace from the off at Alfredian Park. The game’s fate was sealed in the first 10 minutes when Wantage conceded two goals that better defending could have prevented.
On eight minutes Kynan Isaac broke on the left and hit a straightforward cross towards the near post but as Stuart Cattell went to head clear, Wantage 'keeper Gareth Tucker shouted for the ball only to allow Ben Moses to nip between the pair and nod the ball in.
Two minutes later the Nomads increased their lead when the massed Wantage defence watched as Albi Skendi gently but purposefully looped a header from the edge of the box back over the entire defence and into the net.
After that Wantage were always playing catch-up. They had a golden chance to get back in the tie after 32 minutes when striker Richard Claydon was brought down in the box, only for veteran 'keeper Alan Foster to save Claydon's poor spot kick with ease.
Wantage settled a more coherent pattern of play in the second half, but another defensive lapse enabled Adam Morris to run through the heart of the home defence on the hour and slot the ball past Tucker, settling the tie.
Wantage face Shrivenham at Alfredian Park tomorrow looking for the win that will move them away from the relegation zone. Oxford City Nomads travel to Ascot United looking to close the gap on Hellenic Premier leaders Ardley United.
