Andy Woodman felt Whitehawk were at least worth a point after they came away from Oxford City empty-handed, writes Anthony Scott.

The much-travelled Jefferson Louis got the decisive goal in the dying minutes to give the hosts a 1-0 win at Marsh Lane.

It was tough on Hawks who matched the hosts for much of the game and might have even gone on to win had they been more clinical.

Woodman said: “On another day, we would be talking about a 1-0 win and not a defeat. We did enough for at least a point but it is just one moment where we lost our focus that cost us.

“Oxford have improved in the last few months but I feel we deserved something from the game.

“We have to bounce back from this now. We play Bishop’s Stortford at the weekend which is a perfect opportunity to get back on track.”

Woodman handed debuts to Elliot Omozusi and Hogan Ephraim – both signed on Friday – with the latter almost getting an assist early on when he picked out Frankie Sutherland, who headed off target.

The opening stages of the game were relatively cagey, with both sides having chances with Louis, who briefly had a spell on loan at Hawks in 2011, going close for City with an overhead kick which flew wide.

Midway through the half the Hoops had a great chance to take the lead as former Hawks player Stephane Ngamvoulou broke clear but Dan Harding made a good tackle in the box to dispossess him.

Shortly afterwards Hawks had their best chance of the half as Mike West fired towards goal from 25 yards but keeper Craig Hill did well to palm the shot away.

Oxford had a golden chance of their own soon after when Kaiman Anderson broke through Whitehawk’s defence and smashed a shot against the post from five yards out.

The first period of the second half was uneventful with both teams lacking any sort of cutting edge until Sutherland, who got the only goal of last week’s win against Welling, did well to find space and force Oxford keeper Hill into a fine save.

Oxford replied when Godfrey Poku tested Lucas Covolan from 20 yards out.

Ephraim went close to breaking the deadlock late on but headed Josh Passley’s cross off target before Hawks were given a lifeline when Louis beat Covolan with an effort from inside the area only for the ball to come back off an upright.

With it looking increasingly like the points would be shared, Louis was allowed far too much time and space just inside Hawks’ penalty area and was able to hit a fine shot over an advancing Covolan to seal victory for the hosts.

Defeat for Hawks was not a disaster but a missed opportunity following 20th placed Gosport Borough’s 2-0 loss to Margate. Hawks remain five points above the relegation zone.

Whitehawk: Covolan, Passley, Harding, West, M’Boungou, Omozusi, Torres, Sutherland, Mills, Akanbi (Rodrigues 57), Mills. Subs not used: Hobbs, Lengka, Southam, Favarel.

Attendance: 452