A youthful Oxford City side booked Oxford City's place in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup Semi-Final, after coming from behind to beat Clanfield 2-1.

Tyger Hall's penalty after just four minutes gave the hosts the lead. However, City's quality shone through after a second-half fightback as goals from Phil Croker and Mekhai Bessasa-Grant turned the game on its head.

The youthful City side was selected with players from City's academy set-up. However, there were familiar faces with Jayden Carbon and Croker both involved from the get-go.

Charlie Bacon almost got the Hoops off to the positive start after he burst forward from kick-off and picked out Freddy Joyce, but his effort was well blocked.

Nevertheless, it was the Hellenic League side who took the lead after just four minutes. A penalty was given after a City defender committed a foul in the area, and Hall stepped up to score the penalty.

It took City a while to get-going in the game, and matters weren't helped when Carbon limped off the pitch with an injury.

However, once the team started to settle, they brought the game to the hosts.

Hoops Goalkeeper Tom Russell had to be on hand to make two solid saves to keep the score at 1-0, but towards the end of the half, Bacon and Bessasa-Grant both saw efforts fly just wide of the post as City finished the half strongly.

Half-Time: Clanfield 85 1-0 Oxford City

It looked like a local cupset was on the cards until City levelled through Croker.

A free-kick was floated into the box and Clanfield couldn't clear their lines. Croker couldn't believe his luck when the ball fell into his path at the back post, but the young defender did well to slide onto the ball to tap home the leveller.

From then on in, it was all Oxford City. Josh McConnell impressed and came close after dancing through the host's midfield, but the winner came six minutes from time through Bessasa-Grant.

The substitute was sent through on goal and remained composed to drill a shot underneath the 'keeper and put City ahead.

The quality and fitness levels of the City squad turned out to be too much for our opponents, who gave a good account of themselves on the evening.

However, they couldn't trouble Russell in the net and City's youngsters showed professionalism beyond their years to see the game out.

It was great to see a big crowd, with many travelling Hoops fans at Radcot Road watching a competitive game of football between the two sides.

We wish our opponents the very best of luck for the remainder of their season and thank them for their hospitality throughout the evening.

For City, attentions turn to South Shields in the National League North on Saturday. However, they can rest easy knowing their place in the county cup semi-final is booked.

We'll find out who we play within the next few weeks.

Oxford City Starting XI: Russell, Webb, Joyce, Duggan, Moir, Beckett, Bacon, Croker (C), McConnell, Carbon (Bessasa-Grant 21'), Dos Santos

Subs not used: Kauan, Al Jabari, Ben-Yishay