Marine 1

Gregson 14'

Oxford City 1

Stretton 90+3'

Oxford City’s opening day ended in late drama at Marine today as their National League North campaign began with a 1-1 draw

An early Harvey Gregson goal looked to have been  enough to decide a hard-fought first game until Brad Stretton nudged home an injury time equaliser to leave the two sides with a point apiece

Sam Cox’s spirited side dominated periods of the game, especially  the early stages in terms of territory and possession but fell behind after 14 minutes when Marine’s first corner was headed to the edge of the box from where Gregson fired home with a low drive via a wicked deflection that left keeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle floundering.

City stuck to their guns and kept playing their neat brand of passing football although it took a good save from McKenzie-Lyle to keep it at 1-0 before the visitors truly began to create chances

A Stretton drive flashed wide after 28 minutes, a goalbound drive from Zac McEachran flew wide off the back of a Marine ankle and a Josh Parker free kick floated wide of the Marine net as the tide continued to flow towards the Marine goal in the opening 45 minutes.

With the nimble-footed McEachran continually probing for gaps Marine were forced to rely on the counter as City kept up the pressure after the break although clear chances continued to prove hard to come by. The newly-promoted home side, buoyed by a crowd of 1,363, soaked up the sun and began to relax as City faded in the middle part of the game.  before the game built to a crescendo.

The closing stages opened up at both ends. Sub Jack Goodwin almost doubled the lead with a shot at the end of a driving run down the left flank before Parker forced two good saves inside thirty seconds as City tried to salvage a point. In the end it took a corner deep into injury time and Stretton's touch to give them the point they had fully deserved.

It was never going to be pain sailing but the team spirit is in good shape and the belief is clear to see.

Now to turn that into a win at home to Darlington next Saturday.

CITY

Mckenzie-Lyle, Burley, Ashby, Jones, Coyle, McEachran (Roddy), Stretton, Siddik (Kpekawa) Parker (Captain), Potter (Andrews), Carbon,

SUBS:

Fleet, Daniel,

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Simon Godfrey

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