Oxford City gave their survival  hopes a major boost this afternoon as a superb strike from O'Shea Ellis gave them all three points with a 3-2 win over promotion-chasing Kidderminster Harriers

Having conceded after just eight seconds to a Kieren Donnelly goal City roared back with Josh Ashby equalising, Again behind to an Emeka Obi goal, City levelled once more through in-form DJ Sturridge before Ellis's long range effort made it three wins in a  row and just one defeat in the last seven games as they battle to pull away from danger at the foot of the table.

The opener was bizarre in the extreme but the clue is in the name: Harriers,. From kick-off, which City took, the ball was rolled back towards Max Metcalfe, just like you have seen a million times. On this occasion however Donnelly was harrying. Metcalfe hoofed it forward but Donnelly had made the ground up and charged it down. The stranded City keeper got a hand to it (which would have led to a red card) but Donnelly was past him to nod into the empty net and give Kidderminster the earliest of leads.

Not a great start, especially against one of the best teams in the division, but at least City had 90 minutes to do something about it and, they set about their task immediately with an Ashby effort blocked and former Harrier Ashley Hemmings going close before Ashby got his side level with a terrific finish after Jack Bearne had battled to the line and cut the ball back for the skipper to power the equaliser into the roof of the net.

There was a moment of comedy/farce after 36 minutes when Metcalfe was again closed down but this time the ball flew wide of the gaping net but that was a warning that City failed to heed when, on 39, the overworked Metcalfe made a superb save from a Festur Arthur effort only for Donnelly to recycle the ball and cross for the giant Obi to tower above the defence and head home to make it 2-1 at the break.

Obi, one can only, presume had the force on his side but right now Sturridge is the man in red hot form and five minutes after the break he was at it again as he drew The Hoops level at 2-2. A simple enough ball over the top set the forward away and as keeper Rhys Lovett came out Sturridge casually lofted the ball over his head and into the again empty net for the leveller.

It was a superb game of football with both sides aware that three points would make a huge difference at their respective ends of the National League North table and Ellis’s goal after 69 minutes ensured that they stayed with the home side. With space to spare 20 yards out the on-loan BImingham midfielder looked up and fired a spectacular right-footed effort into the top right corner to make it 3-2.

Now City needed to see things through. Aaron Harper-Bailey  made a heroic block to stop David Davis and Kidderminster floundered rarher than flourished. Tackles, blocks and determination all over the pitch meant that Ross Jenkins' side got over the line and once again they climb the table.

A good afternoon's work all round.

CITY
Metcalfe, Wilson, Johnson, Harper-Bailey, Humphries, Ashby, Ellis, McEachran (Taylor 84), Hemmings, Sturridge (Parker 73), Bearne (Clark 84)

SUBS
Roddy, Scott, Burroughs, Carroll

Att: 1,140

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels and Simon Godfrey