Oxford City's Enterprise National League status was secured on the final day of the season as they romped to a 3-1 win away at Play-Off hopefuls Darlington.

Going into the game, City knew a win or draw would mean safety (bar a miraculous turn of events) but they made light work of the Quakers who were well-beaten on the final day of the season.

Ewan Clark gave City the lead before Matty Taylor grabbed a brace in a game where City rarely looked like losing.

Toby Lees made the game into a contest with a late consolation before Aidan Rutledge blasted a penalty over the bar.

The win means City finish the season in 17th place after a super turnaround saved the season.

Ross Jenkins made one change to the side. Aaron Harper-Bailey replaced Darnell Johnson at Centre-Half.

Oxford City had to navigate their way through an early storm from a Darlington side that simply had to win. 

Canice Carroll’s impact since returning to City can’t be understated, and he proved his worth again with a stunning goal-line clearance early on. 

Elliot Forbes skipped past his man and drilled a shot at goal after catching Max Metcalfe off his line, before Carroll heroically stopped the Quakers from taking an early lead with a sliding clearance. 

Metcalfe was the busier of the two Goakeeper’s, whose highlight was making an outstanding reaction save to scrape Aidan Rutledge’s shot from crawling into the net. 

However, a raucous atmosphere at Blackwell Meadows was subdued when news of Buxton’s opener trickled through to the pitch. 

George Burroughs almost gave City the lead but was denied by Darlo ‘Keeper Rory Watson from a tight angle. 

Then, moments after The Hoops struck. Taylor expertly sent Clark through on goal who dinked Watson to give City the lead. 

It got even better for City with scores elsewhere, but the were also doing their job in the North East which meant that scores elsewhere became less relevant. 

Taylor then grabbed City’s second. Clark turned provider, running down the right to calmly square the ball to an unmarked Taylor who did what he’s been doing throughout his career and score. 

Half-Time: Darlington 0-2 Oxford City  

In the second-half, City ended the game as a contest and made sure that they were staying put in the National League. 

City’s dominance and results elsewhere saw Darlington lose their heads. Rash challenges were going in but City overcame the challenge to make it three.

On the hour mark, Darlington couldn’t clear their lines and Matty Taylor added his second goal of the game with the freedom of Blackwell Meadows to fire past Watson. 3-0.

From there on in, Darlington pushed for a way back into the game, but as soon as they did The Hoops caught them on the break. 

With seven minutes to go, Darlington finally made a game of it. A simple corner was headed in by Toby Lees to make it 1-3 and frustrate the City defence by losing their clean-sheet. 

Substitute Isaac Westendorf was back to his usual self too. Somehow the host’s weren’t reduced to ten men when he was hauled down when through on goal…

The game almost had a dramatic ending too when the referee somehow pointed to the spot after Canice Carroll took a shot straight to the face. 

For a moment, there was worry as Carroll stayed down and required attention from both sets of physios, but it added to the sense of injustice that the penalty was given for ‘handball’. 

Nevertheless Rutledge must’ve agreed, as he sportingly blasted the penalty way over Metcalfe’s crossbar. 

In the end, the hosts were lucky it wasn’t more than three. Alfie Potter burst through on goal right at the death, but was denied by the face of Watson just as it looked like City were about to put icing on the cake. 

A game that had so much riding on it, in the end made easy by The Hoops. National League status secured. It was never in doubt was it? 

Attendance: 1,851 

Oxford City Starting XI: Metcalfe, Ashby, Harper-Bailey, Ellis, McEachran (Scott 65'), Clark, Burroughs (Roddy 69'), Humphries, Hemmings (Potter 65'), Carroll (Johnson 90+4'), Taylor (Westendorf 75')

Subs Not Used: Bearne, Parker.