A HORROR 30 minutes cost Oxford City as they lost 3-1 to Eastbourne Borough on the opening day of the Vanarama National League South season.

The visitors went 3-0 up inside half an hour at the RAW Charging Stadium, with Klaidi Lolos pulling one back just after the break.

City went 1-0 down after four minutes when Canice Carroll handled the ball in the penalty area and James Hammond scored from the spot.

Mitchell Dickenson poked in Eastbourne’s second after a scramble midway through the half, before Greg Luer picked off Carroll’s loose pass and ran clear to finish.

City threatened a comeback two minutes after the break when Lolos, one of three debutants in the starting XI, found the top corner from the edge of the box.

But there were no further goals as Eastbourne took revenge for their defeat in last season’s play-offs.