Goals either side of half-time from Lewis Coyle and Josh Parker set City on their way but after Ryan Blackman pulled a goal back for the Saints in the second-half, the Hoops had to dig deep for three points.

Ross Jenkins named one change from the side that drew 2-2 with Slough on New Year's Day. New loan signing Jack Davies was registered in time to make the starting eleven, replacing Lewis Miccio.

It took just two minutes for City to threaten and they should've edged ahead. Josh Parker latched onto a looped through ball by Zac McEachran but the striker's shot bounced back off of the post.

It was a game of fine margins from the first whistle but the 400 supporters from either side were treated to an entertaining end-to-end affair. Zane Banton was the first Saints player to test Ben Dudzinski in the City goal but his fizzed effort didn't trouble the goalkeeper.

After the half-hour mark City came close again, this time through Josh Ashby. Some intricate passes in the Saints' final third helped find the room for a shot, but Ashby (making his 200th appearance for Oxford City) dragged his shot wide.

The first-half looked destined to end in a draw but City had other ideas! On the stroke of half-time, Lewis Coyle burst into the penalty area and drilled a fierce drive into the net to break the deadlock.

Half-Time: Oxford City 1-0 St Albans

Moreover, the interval didn't seem to halt the Hoops' momentum and two minutes after the re-start the lead was doubled. Alfie Potter worked the space well on the right wing, allowing him to whip a superb low cross into the box, leaving Josh Parker with the simplest of finishes, as he dinked the ball over the 'keeper and into the net.

The match should've been settled on the hour mark, but when Lewis Coyle was bundled over inside the box the referee didn't point to the spot. Every player had anticipated the resulting decision to be a penalty, but when play continued, Potter was once again alive to the danger to play on and break into the box. However, he blazed an effort over the crossbar as the chance went begging. 

With twenty minutes to go, the Saints dragged themselves back into the game. Substitute Ryan Blackman, making his debut for the away side, picked out the top corner of the goal from 25-yards out. A great goal to give St Albans a lifeline.

Thoughts of the previous game against Slough (where City surrendered a two goal lead in the last ten minutes) must've been running through the players heads. However, it didn't seem to affect the Hoops who had learnt their lessons from the previous game.

The defence dropped deep amongst a barrage of Saints attacks but stood strong, heading away every cross and blocking every shot. Canice Carroll doing especially well to stop Shaun Jeffers from levelling with two minutes to go.

As the rain lashed down at the RAW Charging Stadium, the Hoops held on against one of the league's in-form teams. A big three points that lifts Ross Jenkins' side to seventh place.

Next up, an away trip to Hampton & Richmond on Saturday.

Oxford City Starting XI: Dudzinski, Davies (Miccio 71'), Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Potter, Fleet ©, McEachran (Humphrey-Ewers 90'), Parker, Williams-Bushell, Carroll.

Subs not used: Lolos, Carbon, Iaciofano