Injury hampered Hoops beaten on the road.

Bromley 3

Olomola 7', 65'

Dennis 90+4'

Oxford City 1

Parker 20'

Josh Parker returned from international duty with a customary goal, but it wasn’t enough on the day, as Oxford City were beaten 3-1 in the Vanarama National League by promotion-chasing Bromley.

Parker scored from the spot after Pierre Fonkeu was tripped inside the box. However, a Olufela Olomola double and an injury time strike from Louis Dennis secured all three points for the hosts.

SELECTION

Ross Jenkins almost struggled to field a squad with the amount of absentees in his squad.

Canice Carroll missed the game with illness, whereas Tom Harrison also was absent through Injury.

There was still no Reece Fleet, Josh Ashby, Nya Kirby, Aaron Williams-Bushell or Alfie Potter.

Joe Wilson was handed a debut and Josh Parker returned to the starting eleven from international duty, in a game where the Hoops could only name four substitutes.

First-Half

It took just thirty seconds for the first chance of the game. The lively Josh Passley darted down the right wing before fizzing a cross into the box to find the host's Michael Cheek. However, the Bromley striker glanced his header inches wide of the post.

But it didn’t take long for Bromley to take the lead. A long ball was lofted forward from the back line and Olufela Olomola shrugged off his marker before slotting the ball underneath Chris Haigh.

City’s walking wounded could’ve collapsed at the home of a Bromley side that will be in the thick of the promotion chase this season.

However, City responded in positive fashion and levelled the scores in the 20^th minute.

Deji Elerewe tripped Pierre Fonkeu in the box and referee Michael Barlow had no option but to point to the spot.

Josh Parker stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake. Sending the ball into the bottom corner to equalise.

City defended well in the first-half, clearing almost every cross into the box before a white shirt could send a shot at goal. Furthemore, City almost went ahead themselves through Parker.

This time the City striker took aim from range but his shot landed safely in Grant Smith’s arms as the half ended with nothing between the two sides.

Half-Time: Bromley 1-1 Oxford City

Second-half

Despite City’s positive performance, the hosts took the lead for a second time. Again, Olomola the scorer after the ball pinged around the six-yard box.

The Hoops couldn’t clear their lines and after Haigh had made an impressive save to deny Cheek from close-range, the ball bounced into Olomola on the edge of the six-yard box and the forward hammered home.

Bromley started to search for a third goal to kill the game, but they came up against an in-form Haigh who made a number of impressive saves to deny the hosts.

City’s number one did well to tip Ben Krauhaus’ shot behind the post, before Louis Dennis’ header was expertly tipped onto the crossbar by City’s number one.

However, Dennis did grab a third goal for his club in the dying moments. An unfortunate slip from Lewis Miccio gifted possession to the substitute on the edge of the box, and the midfielder had enough space to fire past a driven effort past Haigh.

It was a tough afternoon for a depleted City side who gave it their all, and perhaps the scoreline flattered their hosts.

The squad will have an opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday evening away at Wealdstone.

Match Details

Attendance: 1,903 (37 Oxford City)

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Haigh, Burley, Miccio, McEachran, Pedder (Coyle 79’), Roberts, Parker ©, Smith, Fonkeu (Sanderson 74’), Humphrey-Ewers, Wilson (Moore 74’)

Subs not used: Brzozowski

Bromley XI: 

Smith, Elerewe, Woods (Leigh 45') Passley, Cheek, Kirk (Miller 45'), Webster, Whiteley, Tappaloj, Krauhaus, Olomola (Dennis 73')

Subs not used: Sharman-Lowe, Pepple