Hoops Share Points With Quakers.

Darlington 1

Max Kilsby 84'

Oxford City 1

Ellis Brown 21'

Oxford City shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Darlington on a cold Enterprise National League North evening. 

Ellis Brown opened the scoring on 21 minutes, the decisive moment in giving his side the half-time advantage, but a late leveller from a side lifted by new management saw the game end level. 

An even start to the clash unfolded, with both teams doing well in possession, and looking threatening in attack, but the opening stages lacked a big moment at either end. For the Hoops, Marsh looked to get in behind from the get-go, and Brown looked bright, with the best of City’s chances before the opener as a ball over the top was charged down by Brown. The Darlo defence, however, did just enough to nudge our number 11 out of the way, allowing Shea Connor to collect in the Quakers’ net on 16 minutes. 

No bother, however, as Brown got his goal shortly after. It was Pollock’s attempt on 21 minutes that forced an excellent near-post save from Connor, with Brown firing home the rebound to steal the advantage. 

Moments at both ends followed, with Ashby’s 26th-minute free-kick, taken from a corner-like position, a chance to deliver, but he directed too close to the keeper. Then, at the other end, the Hoops were able to recover just in time to deflect a close-range effort over the bar. 

Both teams continued to create chances, with a big moment at each end before the half came to a close. Both came as saves, the first as Ashby struck from close range, his effort met by the feet of Connor in a near-post block. Then, at the other end, Maxted had to adjust to claim a dangerous goalmouth header, meaning neither team were able to change the narrative before the half. 

Half-time: Darlington 0-1 Oxford City 

The second half started in much the same fashion as the first, with both sides pushing forward, but neither really troubling either keeper. Marsh had his chances, the first as he nodded Ashby’s corner over the bar on 53 minutes, with Brown’s delivery begging to be tapped home moments later, but Marsh being flagged for offside. 

It was then those two to link up again, as Marsh lifted a ball over the top for Brown, with the latter in behind the defence, but unable to direct into the net. 

Darlington pushed on, their sights set on a leveller, with an effort dragging narrowly wide of Maxted’s right post on 70 minutes the closest they had come. They then went closer, with Maxted doing excellently well to get a glove to a close-range 77th-minute effort, with a strike from the hosts moments later whistling over the bar. 

They did get their leveller, with a 84th-minute corner being headed at the near post by Max Kilsby, the killer moment in seeing the points shared. Whilst City looked to get back ahead, the Quakers hadn’t left them enough time, with a point earned on their Tuesday travels seeing them stay within touching distance of the top spot. 

City XI: Maxted, Humphries, Ashby ©, Francillette, Pollock (Potter 46’), Tetek, Marsh (Taylor 81’), Brown (Smith 81’), Forestieri (McEachran 61’), Nelson, Crowther. 

Subs unused: Bloom, Carroll, Westendorf