The game came alive in the second half when ex-City player Luis Fernandez headed the hosts ahead. However, debutant goalkeeper Archie Matthews kept City in the game, saving Sam Deadfield’s penalty before Josh Parker grabbed an equaliser.

There was still time for more drama when Andre Burley was sent off for a second yellow card, but the Hoops did well to dig in and defend to the final whistle to secure a point.

Ross Jenkins made two changes to the side that beat St Albans the week prior. Goalkeeper Archie Matthews replaced Ben Dudzinski to make his debut in between the sticks, whereas Joe Iaciofano replaced Alfie Potter.

Despite the game being on of the more entertaining games of the season, the first-half was bereft of chances.

The heavy rainfall before the game had made the Beveree Stadium pitch more of a quagmire than a playing surface, and as the game went on both teams tried to acclimatise to the conditions as the game developed into an open affair.

It took until the 22^nd minute for the first real chance of the game but a cross was sent into the box for the hosts, Dean Inman missed a guilt edge chance. The Hampton defender evaded detection in the box and rose highest to head towards goal, but his header floated over the crossbar with the goal gaping.

City had to wait until the half hour mark for their first chance of the game. Josh Ashby sent a free-kick from the edge of the box towards goal, but his dipping effort couldn’t catch out Hampton ‘keeper Alan Julian, who got a fingertip to the cross to stop it from finding the top corner.

However, City had Matthews to thank seven minutes before the interval. Connor Kurran-Browne burst past his marker to run in on goal but the on-loan Swans stopper did well to rush off of his line, make himself big and make a strong save with his left leg in a scenario that had the whole ground expecting the net to bulge.

Half time: Hampton & Richmond 0-0 Oxford City

The heavy rainfall before the game had made the Beveree Stadium pitch more of a quagmire than a playing surface, and as the game went on both teams tried to acclimatise to the conditions as the game developed into an open affair.

Ten minutes after the re-start the hosts went ahead from a free-kick. Luis Fernandez’ movement allowed him to find a few inches of space in the City box, and he headed home from inside the box to give Hampton the lead.

Five minutes later, Joe Iaciofano was brought down inside the area but the referee waved away the protests to the bemusement of the City players. However, he did point to the spot on the hour mark when Josh Ashby brought down Sam Deadfield.

Deadfield stepped up to take the spot kick himself but Matthews dived to his right and parried the shot away from goal.

Furthermore, the Hoops seemed to wake up after the let off and just a minute later were level through Josh Parker. Julian saved Joe Iaciofano’s shot, but the ball rebounded into the path of Parker who tapped the ball into the net at full stretch to level.

At that moment in time the momentum looked to have been turning in City’s favour until Andre Burley was given his marching orders. The lively Kurran-Browne danced past the centre half before being brought down and there could be no complaints about the yellow card that followed.

Queue a Hampton onslaught for the remaining twenty minutes of the game. The Hoops had to be alert straight away, Canice Carroll hooked Tommy Wood’s headed effort off the line at the hosts came agonisingly close to going ahead for a second time.

Just like the previous Saturday against St Albans, City had to dig deep to hold onto a result, but once again they did just that.

Every cross that was sent into the box seemed to be headed away by the new makeshift defence of Carroll, Jack Davies and Lewis Miccio and deep into added time Ashby did superbly to throw himself in front of Wood’s driven shot that looked like it was going to find the net.

In the end, the final whistle came as a welcome relief to City. Coming away from the Beveree Stadium with a point after being reduced to ten men can only be seen as a positive, never mind the playing surface.

Results elsewhere meant that the Hoops climb a place to sixth with a trip to Concord Rangers awaiting the team on Saturday.

Oxford City Starting XI: Matthews, Davies, Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Fleet ©, Iaciofano (Potter 73’), McEachran (Miccio 86’), Parker, Williams-Bushell, Carroll

Subs not used: Dudzinski, Lolos, Carbon