It was a strong display from City but the Hoops couldn’t find their way past an inspired Ovie Ejeheri. 

Ross Jenkins tinkered with the side that lost 1-0 to Chippenham on Tuesday. New signing Josh Parker signed with the club in the nick of time to take his place in the starting eleven. 

Elsewhere, Charlie Rowan served the first game of his three-match suspension and was replaced by Andre Burley. Lewis Miccio was left out of the squad with an injury.

The first half was an entertaining affair, especially from the Hoops’ point of view. However, it took Jenkins’ side a while to find their stride in the game. 

Chelmsford’s game plan was focused on getting crosses into the box and for the first ten minutes of the game they caused City problems. 

Tom Harrison was called into action to clear an effort from Charlie Ruff off the line after just four minutes and Harry Lodovica should have found the target from inside the box five minutes after that. 

However, City started to find their rhythm after the 20th minute and dominated proceedings from then on in. Parker started to showcase his EFL pedigree, stinging the palms of Ejeheri after the half hour mark. 

The on loan Arsenal ‘keeper managed to turn his body quickly to dive across goal to deny City an opener in what was the best chance of the half. 

Parker continued to try his luck in the half and after Ejeheri denied the forward again from a tight angle five minutes before the break, Chelmsford could count themselves lucky to be at level terms come half-time.

Half-time: Chelmsford City 0-0 Oxford City 

The second-half was another closely fought affair but Ejeheri kept being the thorn in City’s side. Josh Ashby took aim at goal after five minutes after the restart but the in-form ‘keeper tipped his effort over the crossbar. 

The Hoops kept knocking on the Clarets’ door but when Reece Fleet’s curled attempt was caught by Ejeheri, it was starting to look like it wasn’t to be our day. 

Chelmsford had chances of their own. Kai Yearn fluffed his lines inside the area when he was played in on goal and Dudzinski rose highest to deny Lodovica an opener. 

However, just as City looked to have come away with a well-earnt point, a 90th minute goal left the Hoops empty handed for the second time in as many games. 

A corner was whipped into the back post and after a goalmouth scramble Oluwu stabbed home from close range. Another cruel end to a performance that deserved much more. 

City’s attentions turn to the FA Cup on Saturday as the squad travel to Salisbury FC looking to get back to winning ways and progress to the third qualifying round. 

Attendance: 1,043

Oxford City starting XI: Dudzinski, Ashby, Burley (Muchechetere 78’), Coyle, Fleet ©, McEachran, Lolos, Parker, Harrison, Williams-Bushell, Carroll

Subs not used: Grantham, Iaciofano, Fischer, Humphrey-Ewers