Oxford City were forced to settle for a point on the road as they drew 2-2 with Curzon Ashton in Enterprise National League North. 

A truly entertaining ninety minutes started strongly and never settled down as both teams desperately searched for goals. 

A controversial opener from Alex Curran gave the hosts the lead before Ashley Hemmings almost instantly levelled on his full debut for the Hoops. 

City added a second when O’Shea Ellis curled home a beautiful shot to turn the game on its head. After the break, Tony Weston’s tidy finish from a tight angle forced City to settle for a point. 

Both Goalkeeper’s also took centre stage with a number of terrific saves. 

Ross Jenkins shuffled the pack going into the game, giving starts to Hemmings, Ewan Clark, Zac McEachran, Josh Ashby and Byron Wilson all returned to the starting XI.

City started brightly too, but controversially found themselves behind after just eleven minutes. Clark was seemingly fouled in the middle of the pitch, but to the bemusement of everyone inside the Tameside Stadium, play continued. 

City didn’t seem to shake off that blow too as Curran ended a counter-attacking move by flicking the ball over Charlie Wiggett and hammering a shot into the net. 

However, City almost instantly replied. Wilson’s cross was inch-perfect for new-boy Hemmings who rose well to power a header into the net with the aid of the underside of the crossbar. 

City really came into their own too but couldn’t find a way past an inspired Joshua Ollerenshaw who made a number of outstanding saves to deny City. 

He couldn’t keep the ball out of the net for long though, as City deservedly went ahead through Ellis. A neat passing move ended up with the central midfielder curling an effort into the net from the edge of the box. 2-1. 

In the end, Curzon were lucky it wasn’t 1-3 at the break. Josh Parker came close with a long-ranged effort as City were perhaps a little disheartened to not be further ahead at half-time. 

Half-Time: Curzon Ashton 1-2 Oxford City 

The host’s revival did appear though, and they pushed for a leveller in the early stages of the half. 

Charlie Wiggett (somehow) cleared an effort destined for the net off the line to keep City ahead as City strapped themselves in to defend and attack with pace. 

Hemmings all so nearly added the third, but again his shot from a tight angle was denied by the in-form ‘keeper from Curzon. Even his acrobatic effort couldn’t squirm into the net. 

George Burroughs also did well to wrestle Tony Weston off the ball when it looked like the striker was about to find the net. 

The leveller did come though, and the disappointing thing for City was that it was avoidable… A long ball over the top outfoxed Evan Humphries and Weston punished the error by firing a shot into the net from a tight angle. 

More chances followed though in the form of two free-kicks, and Josh Ashby will feel disappointed to not have his name  on the scoresheet as he fired inches wide of the target with two set-pieces from just outside the box. 

Nevertheless, the game was in the balance, and towards the end it was Curzon who were pushing for the winner. City Goalkeeper Max Metcalfe made a truly outstanding save in the last moments to tip a shot destined for the top corner wide of the mark. 

A point in the end perhaps a fair one? However, both teams will be wondering whether it could’ve been all three… 

Oxford City Starting XI: Metcalfe, Wilson, Ashby, Ellis, McEachran, Wiggett, Parker (Sturridge 83'), Clark (Bearne 83'), Burroughs, Humphries, Hemmings.

Subs not used: Roddy, Harper-Bailey, McFarlane, Scott, Taylor.