DJ Campton-Sturridge’s second goal in as many games wasn’t enough for Oxford City in Enterprise National League North, as they were narrowly beaten 2-1 away at Buxton.

City’s wideman capped off a superb team move to level the scoring after latching onto Tom Scott’s pass to cut out Luke Brennan’s opener.

However, Tai Sodje’s tap-in in the second-half gave the hosts all three points despite being given a real run for their money by the hard-working Hoops.



The game could’ve been different if Buxton Goalkeeper Paul Cooper was shown a red card after it looked like he handled the ball outside the area. However, it’s another decision that has gone against Ross Jenkins’ side in recent weeks.

A tightly-fought first-half didn’t yield too many chances. However, there was a moment of real contention just four minutes in when Buxton Goalkeeper Paul Cooper came steaming off his line to control a pass.

However, after controlling the pass awkwardly, the ball bounced off Cooper’s hand. Ultimately though, the decision went in the favour of the opposition (as in so many games this season).

Buxton started to strut their stuff from then on in, and showed why they’re one of the best footballing teams in the division. Despite that, chances were few and far between.

Isaac Westendorf was his usual self, pressing from the front consistently and causing some scares in the backline.

Despite that, it was Buxton who took the lead. Perhaps the most disappointing thing was that it came from the Hoops’ own making.

Luke Brennan burst down the left-wing after City couldn’t clear their lines, and after receiving the ball back on the edge of the box, the midfielder curled an excellent effort into the corner of the net. Sam Lewis had no chance of reaching it.

That goal came when Ross Jenkins’ side had just started to find themselves in the ascendancy, but they continued to probe despite the set-back.

Tom Scott had two efforts denied by Cooper and a barrage of corners late on in the half followed, but to no avail.

Half-Time: Buxton 1-0 Oxford City

City came flying out of the traps in the second-half, and after just five minutes they levelled.

Tom Scott turned his man and played a delightful ball across to the back post where DJ Campton-Sturridge was waiting. He didn’t need a second invitation to smash the ball home to cap a superb team move and draw City level.

Buxton centre-half Kieron Burton was getting the run-around by Isaac Westendorf, who was his usual superb self, in fact, the backline will probably have nightmares of City’s Striker after this one.

However, Buxton came fighting back at the other end of the pitch and notched ahead again through Tai Sodje.

The Buxton striker hardly had a kick all game, but unfortunately for City his only real participation in the contest was scoring the winner. The Manchester City academy graduate was in the right place at the right time to tap home Luke Hall’s cross from point blank range.

City kept coming forward though, but they couldn’t find another goal as the magic tough evaded them.

Ross Jenkins introduced Charlie Bacon from the bench alongside fellow academy graduate Brayden Daniel, the former coming agonisingly close to a goal after his daisy-cutting shot was saved by Cooper.

In the end, that was all City could muster as their thin squad chased the game. The lively Luke Hall almost added a third goal to the scoreline, but his curled effort slammed off the crossbar.

The day was perhaps summed up by the reactions of Buxton’s Burton & Sodje at the final whistle. The duo both let their emotions get the better of them, earning bookings in the process – an indication that they’d been given a big run for their money.

City will dust themselves down and go again in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round as they travel to Westbury United on Saturday.

ATT: 705

Oxford City Starting XI: Lewis, Roddy (Bacon 79’) , Ashby, Johnson, Westendorf, McEachran (Humphrey-Ewers 69’), Campton-Sturridge (Daniel 69’), Wiggett, Parker, Scott, Burroughs

Subs not used: Treml, Lacey, Bampoh, McConnell