A determined performance earned Oxford City a point  as they drew 0-0 with AFC Telford United at the MGroup Stadium

City showed a positive reaction after defeat at home to Marine on Saturday, passing the ball neatly and matching one of the form teams in the league for the whole 90 minutes but were  just unable to find a winner despite their best efforts.

Loanee Max Metcalfe had to make a decent save from Oliver Cawthorne with the first chance of the night but that moment aside he didn't have too many saves to make: City pressing forward but Telford an constant ominous threat on the break.

When opportunity did arise there was always a defender to the rescue; a challenge by George Burroughs shortly after the break stopped a certain goal from the seemingly unmarked Remi Walker and there was a similar block from Roddy on 75 but the game started to open up around the hour mark with the two keepers trading standard saves from mid-range efforts.

The elusive Jack Bearne wriggled through and tested keeper Josh Gracey after 67 minutes before being replaced by Oxford Legend Matty Taylor for the last 20 minutes.

The local hero lifted not only the crowd but also the volume level: you could hear him encouraging and demanding effort straight away from those around him. It  sparked a Callum McFarlane drive that flicked wide off a Telford leg,  a Taylor flick a moment later that was also blocked as City pressed for a win and when  Parker finally got the ball home a flag was up  to deny City all three points.

A 91st minute red card for visiting defender Alex Fletcher  was soon followed by one for Ashby, both for second yellow cards but there wasn't time for the extra space on the poitch to add to the excitement.

A point apiece but a step in the right direction...

CITY

Metcalfe, Burroughs, Wiggett, Harper-Bailey, Roddy, Ashby, Ellis (Humphrey-Ewers 90), Bearne (Taylor 72), Daniel (Potter 76), McFarlane, Parker (Scott 87)

SUBS
Treml, Wilson, Scott, Humphries,

Att: 554

Report by Dave Pritchard, pictures Darrell Fisher