A terrific header from Corie Andrews earned Oxford City a solid point on the road as they held Darlington to a 1-1 draw in Vanarama National League North.

The hosts took the lead after just 48 seconds when Jack Maskell tapped home a rebound, before Andrews struck just four minutes before the interval.

For City, the game got off to the worst possible start when Maskell put Darlo ahead, tapping home after Kai McKenzie-Lyle could only parry Kelly's shot into the path of the striker.

It was an end-to-end half, and City grew into the contest and started to play their football on a difficult playing surface.

Andrews thought he had equalised on twenty minutes when rounded Goalkeeper Pete Jameson to tap home, but he was denied by the linesman's flag.

He wasn't to be denied for too long though, as Andrews rose highest to meet Tom Scott's superb cross to head home.

After the break, Darlington started to control the game, and the Hoops had to weather a storm.

McKenzie-Lyle was busy in between the sticks, but stood up to the challenge posed by the hosts, to make a number of standard saves.

There were some hairy moments, but again, City stood up to the challenge. The team were dogged in their defending, with everyone on the pitch running through brick walls to keep the score 1-1.

The Hoops did threaten on the counter though. Josh Ashby stung the palms of Jameson with a tame effort on the counter-attack.

However, the Darlington pressure kept coming. In the last minute of the game, the hosts were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area as they were given a golden chance to steal all three points.

But again, McKenzie-Lyle made a standard save to deny the midfielder after his shot deflected off the wall.

All in all, it's a point gained for City, who make the long trip back to Oxford with a well deserved point.

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