Oxford City had to settle for a point this evening as a Jack Bearne goal was cancelled out by a late goal from Alex Penny at Kidderminster.

Bearne's first half strike against his former side looked to be giving his new club a memorable win but Penny''s 81st minute volley levelled things in an entertaining game between two good sides.

With the powerful Isaac Westendorf leading the line well and Josh Parker, Zac McEachran and Bearne quick to join, City certainly hadn’t come to sit back and soak up pressure against a slick Harriers side who moved the ball nicely across the lush Aggborough pitch.

City created the better chances in a one sided first half. McEachran and Westendorf had the first couple of shots before a trademark Ashby free kick from 25 yards flew over the wall, left keeper Dibble floundering but bounced back off the bar after 22 entertaining minutes.

City deserved a goal and on 36 it came from Bearne. Westendorf opened things up by first holding off his defender on half way then opening the Harriers defence with a clever backpass that sent Scott scurrying forward. Bearne timed his run, Scott timed the pass to perfection, and Bearne sprinted into the box and fired past Dibble for his first City goal. Five goals for the season, five different scorers, fact fans.

Kidderminster responded and stepped their game up but keeper Sam Lewis remained untroubled before the break and Ashby was inches away from doubling the lead moments into the second half when his shot flew just over the bar.

Home boss Adam Murray had clearly rallied his troops at the break though and they responded with a much improved second 45 minutes

Lewis was finally called into serious action after 55 minutes when he got down well to shovel a low shot from David Davis away from danger but the on loan Villa keeper had to repeat that ten minutes later as the home side applied more and more pressure.

Centre-Halves  Charlie Wiggett and Darnell Johnson stood up to that pressure stoutly but a string of corners pummelled City into submission until Penny finally pounced to level at 1-1 after 81 minutes.

If anything, City looked the more likely side to win after that but in the end being slightly disappointed to only come away from much-fancied Kidderminster with a single point is a good sign, surely?

One defeat, one win, one draw so far. On we go to Spennymoor at home on Saturday....

CITY

Lewis, Roddy, Ashby, Johnson, Bearne (Campton-Sturridge 90+5), McEachran, Wiggett, Parker, Scott, Westendorf (Potter 75), Burroughs

SUBS

Treml, Wilson, Humphrey-Ewers, Daniel, McConnell

ATT:  2,526 away 38

Report by Chris Williams, Pictures Simon Godfrey