Oxford City secured a valuable point on the road in Enterprise National League North at Marine, as debutant Goalkeeper Jamie Pardington stole the show with a string of impressive saves. 

An even game lacked quality in the final third, but City’s stopper made save after save after save to deny the hosts and ensure City didn’t leave Merseyside empty handed. 

The whole City side put in a determined performance to earn a point on the day, but on another day may well have snatched all three if some positive moves had paid off. 

Ross Jenkins handed a full debut to new Goalkeeper Pardington who joined the club on loan from Sky Bet League One side Lincoln City before the match. 

He had just 40 minutes before the match to be acquainted with his new team mates before the game, signing just before the transfer cut-off.

He had to make a quick start too, as City’s new number one made a string of impressive saves to keep the scores level at the break.

The highlight of a number of impressive stops in the first half was a heroic stop to deny George Newall when he bore down on goal in a 1v1. 

Isaac Westendorf was back to his usual best and back in the team too, and Marine struggled to contain the City’s main man up top. 

City’s number nine came closest for the Hoops in the first 45’, his shot from a tight angle forcing a save from Marine stopper Fraser Barnsley, in what was a pretty drab first-half. 

Half-time: Marine 0-0 Oxford City

After the break, City started brightly. Playing the ball’s into channels for Westendorf & Parker to chase. However, whenever the ball made its way into the final third - chances were difficult to create. 

Wing-backs Jacob Roddy and Ewan Clark worked relentlessly to create chances that eventually went awry. They didn’t shirk their defensive duties either though. 

However, as the game went on, the hosts pushed for the winner. 

City were perhaps lucky not to concede a penalty as the game went on when Josh Parker was involved in a penalty box tangle… However, penalty or not, unlike the rest of the season the decision went in the Hoops’ favour. 

Time after time Pardington was on hand to save chance after chance for City, but the most impressive came ten minutes from time. 

A shot Lewis Bell forced a save from the City shot-stopper who could only parry the ball away from goal. Then, the scramble. 

A race ensued to get to the loose ball from the ‘keeper and Marine striker Charlie Jolley. Just as Jolley looked like he was about to poke the host’s ahead Pardington produced a monumental moment to push the ball clear, even when he knew he was about to get a clattering. 

The clattering inevitably happened, but City’s clean sheet remained intact. 

After the game, everyone inside the Marine Travel Arena was questioning how they hadn’t found a way past City’s new shot-stopper. Shot-stopper? More like show-stopper! 

A clear player of the match performance from Pardington, but in truth, a gritty and determined team performance helped maintain a third clean sheet in their last four ENLN games to secure a valuable point. 

Next up… Telford away. See you there! 

Attendance: 1,037

Oxford City Starting XI: Pardington, Roddy, Ashby, Francis, Westendorf, Wiggett, Parker, Scott (McEachran 75’), Clark, Burroughs, Humphrey-Ewers

Subs not used: Treml, Wilson, Campton-Sturridge, Potter, Maragh, Daniel