Oxford City made it through to the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final with an excellent 2-1 win at Ardley this evening.

Having taken the lead through left-back Aydin Ulas in the first half, City were pegged back when sub George Cowmeadow put the home side level, only for Brazilian striker Kauan to send them through from the penalty spot

Fielding a side based around the under 19 side who did so well in the FA Youth Cup earlier in the season, City, the record winners of the competition, showed great determination and will now face either Kidlington or Carterton in this year’s final.

Keeper Max Treml had three saves to make in the first few minutes, two from the hugely experienced Declan Benjamin, playing as a centre forward and testing the physicality of the young Hoops backline, but a header at the other end from one of those centre halves, Evan Took-Oxley went close as City began to make ground up the sizeable slope.

Winger Brayden Daniel pinged a shot over when well placed after half an hour before Ulas gave the Hoops the lead in the 31^st minute by firing a low curling free kick around the Ardley wall and into the bottom right corner for an excellent opener.

The home side stepped things up after the break with a more direct approach that left City hoping that lone striker Kauan could hold the ball and set them on a counter. The boy from Brazil did that well, battling away and working tirelessly but half way through the second half Cowmeadow volleyed home from a corner and we were level again at 1-1. I’d like to write that Cowmeadow grazed the bar, but he didn’t.

City then showed the perfect response when Daniel was tripped after 75 minutes and Kauan restored the lead with an accurate penalty just inside the left hand post to make it 2-1.

Now we had a proper cup tie for the closing stages with Ardley chasing a second equaliser and City defending bravely. They did it well and deserved their celebrations.

A fantastic performance which once again underlines the potential in the youngsters at the MGroup Stadium.

CITY

Treml, Abdi, Ulas, Njogu, Took-Oxley, Moir, Webb (Bacon 63), Mirnam (Heap 78), Bitencourt De Oliveira, Stahi, Daniel

 SUBS

Tzengo, Gerald, Dix

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Morgan Edwards