City fight back to pick up big point on the road.

Eastleigh 2

Quigley 16', 75'

Oxford City 2

Coyle 78'

Humphrey-Ewers 88'

Oxford City recovered a two-goal deficit to pick up a point away at Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Eastleigh dominated the first half, going ahead through Scott Quigley’s goal. The Hoops came out stronger in the second period, but conceded against the run of play to Quigley once more.

But late goals from Lewis Coyle and Latrell Humphrey-Ewers meant the Hoops came away with a point, making it seven games unbeaten in the Vanarama National League.

SELECTION

The Hoops made three changes from Saturday’s draw with Dagenham and Redbridge, with Josh Ashby, Nya Kirby and Olly Sanderson all being replaced.

Lewis Coyle returned from suspension and Zac McEachran came into the squad for his first start in the National League. Humphrey-Ewers was the third change to the starting eleven, replacing Kirby.

First-Half

Eastleigh had the best of the early spells, pinning City deep in their half and creating chances. Chris Maguire’s early effort was deflected marginally wide, and minutes later, a low ball in by Scott Quigley caused problems for the defence, before eventually being cleared by Canice Carroll.

The Hoops’ resistance was soon broken though. A long ball over the top by Spitfires keeper Joe McDonnell went broke the defence, leaving Quigley with the ball on the edge of the box. He moved the ball onto his right foot, before slotting the ball low past Haigh to give Eastleigh the lead.

The home side very nearly had a second on the half hour mark, when Quigley broke again down the right.

He tried to play the ball across for the onrushing Maguire, but an excellent sliding challenge by Lewis Miccio prevented what was a certain goal.

City were struggling to get hold of play in the middle of the park, with a driving, skillful run followed by a blocked attempt from the edge of the box by Aaron Williams-Bushell one of City’s best opportunities in the first half, and they went into the break trailing.

Second-half

The Hoops came into the second half with a bit more emphasis, with Zac McEachran’s effort on the half volley defended brilliantly by George Langston.

Just a minute later, City felt they should have had a penalty, after Latrell Humphrey-Ewers’ cross bounced up towards the hand of Enzio Boldewijn, however referee Wayne Cartmel saw nothing doing.

The away side thought they had levelled the game on 64 minutes, after a corner fell out to Carroll, who beat his man down the right and delivered a low cross, which Josh Parker flicked in.

However, the linesman’s flag had been raised, despite the attacker’s strong protests.

But, as in the first half, the away side were undone once again by a long ball. The ball was launched up by the goalkeeper and flicked on by Paul McCallum, through to the goalscorer Quigley, who delicately lifted the ball over Chris Haigh and into the back of the net to double Eastleigh’s advantage.

The Hoops responded brilliantly however, and cut the deficit back to one in the 79th minute.

Substitute Pierre Fonkeu made a run down the right, before picking out Lewis Coyle on the edge of the box.

The midfielder worked the ball past the defender, before unleashing a brilliant curling shot into the top left corner past the helpless McDonnell.

City started to push with the hopes of an equaliser, and they got just that on 88 minutes, courtesy of youngster Latrell Humphrey-Ewers.

Parker, making his fiftieth appearance for the Hoops on the night, had won a free kick 25 yards out, and although Humphrey-Ewers’ original free kick went straight into the wall, the midfielder was able to crash in his rebound to the bottom left corner from outside the box, sending the travelling fans wild.

Eastleigh pushed to take the three points in the final moments, but City defended resolutely and held out for another point on the road.

Match Details

Attendance: 1,669 (80 Oxford City)

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Haigh, Miccio, Harrison, Coyle, Fleet, McEachran (Sanderson, 65), Parker, Williams-Bushell (Fonkeu, 72), Carroll, Humphrey-Ewers (Burley 89'), Moore

Subs not used: Brzozowski, Wilson

Eastleigh Starting XI: 

McDonnell, Atangana, Francillette, Carter, McCallum, Boldewijn, Langston, Rendall, , Maguire (Barlow, 77), Quigley, Rutherford