MORECAMBE went down to a heavy defeat at League 2 newcomers Oxford Utd.

The Shrimps were on the end of a 4-0 thumping after another poor performance which leaves them still looking for their first win of the season.

Oxford dominated the opening stages with Barry Roche saving neatly from Matt Green and Simon Heslop before being beaten for the first time on 21 minutes.

The Shrimps lost the ball in midfield and Heslop made them pay with a 25-yard screamer that flew into the top left hand corner of the Morecambe goal.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 after more poor Morecambe defending. A right wing corner was swung into the box and James Constable rose unchallenged to head past Roche from 12 yards out.

Morecambe were much better in the second half with Mark Duffy and Craig Stanley going close and Oxford keeper Ryan CLarke saving superbly from Stewart Drummond and Paul Mullin.

But then things went wrong again as Lawrie Wilson was sent off for a second bookable offence and Oxford took advantage as Constable sealed his hat trick with two goals on 83 and 90 minutes.

Morecambe were not helped by the early loss of Phil Jevons to a nasty head injury which forced him to leave the field after only seven minutes to be replaced by Paul Mullin.

Boss Sammy McIlroy made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Gillingham the previous week.

Stewart Drummond, who had put in a solid display in the midweek JPT match at Macclesfield and fit-again Adam Rundle returned to the starting line up, with Darren Moss and Chris Shuker dropping to the bench.

Oxford: Clarke; Purkiss, Worley, Wright, Tonkin; Heslop, Hall, Craddock; Constable, Green, Payne. Subs: Eastwood, Creighton, Deering, Baker, Potter, Midson, Bulman.

Morecambe: Roche; Scott, Parrish, McCready, Wilson; Drummond; Duffy, Stanley, Fleming, Rundle; Jevons. Subs: Walker, Haining, Duffy, Hunter, Spencer, Mullin, Shuker.