An incredible ending  saw Oxford City'upset the odds to beat Oxford United 3-2 at the  MGroup this evening.

After Josh Parker had given the Hoops an early lead goals from Gatlin O'Donkor and Jack Lee put United ahead in time added on. Amazingly, City kept going and goals from Brayden Daniel and Jack Bearne somehow sent them through

City used the game to ease players such as Bearne, Tom Scott and Evan Humphries back to full fitness while promising players like Daniel, Byron Wilson and Josh McConnell were given game time after featuring on the bench in recent first team games. The one youngster to truly step up was Man of the Match Caleb Moir who gave an assured performance at centre-half despite coming up against the far more experienced O’Donkor on his comeback from injury.

It turned into a truly memorable match with two energetic sides playing neat passing football throughout

O’Donkor’s strike partner Lee had the first chance of the night but found Jonny Maxted equal to it when he let fly from 20 yards in the 12^th minute but it was former United striker Parker who reminded  the youngsters how to do it after 15 minutes when he picked up a Bearne cross, turned sharply and buried a low shot past the helpless Monty Marriott in the United goal.

However at the other end O’Donkor's pace and power looked ominous and on 26 minutes he got the U’s back on equal terms when he raced clear and powered the ball past Maxted with a thunderous blast into the roof of the net.

City might have regained a half-time lead when the impressive McConnell sent a well-struck effort just wide in time added on but six minutes after the break Lee put United ahead from the spot after tricky winger Kasway Burton was upended by Humphries just inside the box..

O'Donkor's (scheduled) withdrawal at the break certainly took away much of the  threat from the away side and most of the second half was played in the United half.

Sub George Burroughs flicked a header just over from a corner then repeated that after a Parker header across the face of goal  The only question was whether City could find the goal that would take the game to penalties. Never in doubt.

First  Daniel, a winner last season with Thame, burst through a challenge  and powered down the right and slotted past Marriott to  make it 2-2 after 96 minutes

A minute later and there was true drama as Bearne somehow had the energy to sprint away on the opposite flank and fire across Marriott to send City into the semi-finals.

Amazing.

With City ending the game with seven home grown players up against eleven in yellow this was a fine advert for Oxford football, played in the right spirit; competitive but never dirty. Just what the competition is all about

CITY

Maxted, Wilson, Moir, Bearne, McFarlane (Kauan 46), Wiggett (Burroughs 46), Parker (Stathi 67), Scott (Bacon 84), Humphries (Roddy 67), Daniel, McConnell

ATT:  294

Report by Chris Rewrite Williams, pictures by Mike Allen