LEWIS Coyle scored direct from a corner in the only goal of the game as Oxford City won at home against Marine.
The effort came with 27 minutes on the clock in the Vanarama National League North encounter, when Coyle curled a left-footed set piece above Mariners goalkeeper Andrew Wogan and into the back of the net.
The visitors came out fighting in the second period and enjoyed large spells of possession as they searched for an equaliser.
Enock Lusiama sent a dipping effort wildly off target when he chased a long ball forward, while the Hoops needed Kai McKenzie-Lyle to make a save as the game entered the final quarter of an hour.
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The City keeper was then called upon in the final moments, as substitute Owen Robinson directed a low strike towards the bottom right corner, only for McKenzie-Lyle to get a glove on it and push the ball round the post.
The Hoops managed to hold on for their first league win in five games, while increasing the gap to the relegation zone to seven points.
