Hoops Through in Isuzu FA Trophy.

Newmarket Town 1

Elliot Reeves 30'

Oxford City 4

Own Goal 20'

Scott Pollock 73'

Matty Taylor 77'

Ellis Brown 85'

Oxford City progressed in the Isuzu FA Trophy, with a 4-1 victory away from home against Newmarket Town. 

An own goal set City ahead, with the hosts levelling before the half, but three goals within 12 minutes at the end of the second 45 saw the Hoops through. 

As expected in a cup tie, both teams were up for the occasion, Smith looking bright on the right, with City’s best chance in the opening ten minutes coming as his attempt to squeeze in at the near post saved. 

The first of City’s disallowed goals shortly followed, as Nelson threaded through the box on 13 minutes, with Westendorf tapping home at the back post, before looking up to see the offside flag raised. 

On 20 minutes, the scoreline was officially opened, as Westendorf charged through on goal, with the intervening action from the hosts seeing them slide across to clear, but that attempt saw them direct into their own net. 

It didn’t take the hosts long to equalise, however, with Elliot Reeves heading home from close range in the 30th-minute, the decisive moment in sending the sides in level at the half.

City did put the ball in the back of the net twice more in the half, the first as Forestieri arrived to push Westendorf’s saved effort over the line, but there was ruled to be a handball in the lead up to his 42nd-minute strike. 

It was then Westendorf who struck beyond Newmarket’s number one on 45 minutes, but he was deemed to be offside, meaning nothing separated the teams at the half. 

Half-time: Newmarket Town 1-1 Oxford City 

The hosts were the next to have a goal flagged for offside, as they tapped home at the back post on 55 minutes, as they had a spell in which they looked the more likely side to net next. 

That was until City’s subs entered the fray, with twelve minutes towards the end of the half changing the narrative. That started in the 73rd minute, with Brown’s cross too much for the Jockeys to handle, Pollock subsequently slotting home from the centre of the box to retake the lead. 

Then, Taylor netted his first competitive goal since his return from injury. It was Brown yet again with the cross, this time in the 77th minute, that picked out Taylor in the goalmouth, with the latter slotting home to give City a two-goal cushion. 

City’s final goal came as Brown, excellent since he came on, got a deserved goal, volleying at the back post, an effort which struck the underside of the woodwork and crossed the line on 85 minutes to confirm a job well done for the Hoops.

City XI: Maxted, Humphries, Ashby ©, Francillette, Tetek (Potter 68’), McEachran, Smith (Brown 68’), Forestieri (Pollock 57’), Carroll, Nelson, Westendorf (Taylor 57’).

Subs unused: Bloom.