The two sides started with high intensity, both creating early chances in the game. The first chance for The Hoops came inside the first five minutes, seeing Ashby turn inside on the edge of the box. However, his shot was not enough to get past The Hemel Hempstead goalkeeper, Craig King. 

The opener came from Josh Parker, just inside the 8th minute of the match. An excellent cross down the right-hand side from Yeovil Town loanee Will Dawes, was inch-perfect for Josh Parker, who was able to volley it home from inside the six-yard box.  

However, Hemel came so close to an equaliser, from a free kick on the edge of the box, just before halfway into the half. The Tudors midfielder, George Williams, sent a dipping free-kick crashing onto the crossbar but thankfully for City, it bounced away to safety. 

With moments to go in the first-half, the hosts came close again, this time through ex Oxford City player Nana Owusu. He fired a low driven shot onto the post but again, the effort bounced off Kanuric and rolled out for a Hemel corner.

Half time: Hemel Hempstead 0-1 Oxford City 

Both sides came out flying in the the second half, as the game became a lot more end-to-end. City had the first chance of the half, coming from captain, Reece Fleet but his shot was deflected wide.

However, moments later, the Hoops we're wondering how it wasn't 2-0. A cross was floated into the box to an unmarked Josh Parker. However, as the striker powerfully headed towards goal, Hemel goalkeeper Craig King managed to get fly across his goal and make a superb save to parry the header wide. 

City continued to press and next, the lively Aaron Williams-Bushell tried his luck. His excellent effort from outside the box, dipped just over the crossbar.  

City kept knocking on the host's door, and again were denied a second goal when Lewis Miccio's header was cleared off the line. The defender sent a looping header towards goal, but just as it was about to drop into the goal, it was is salvaged off the line by Hemel captain, Josh Hill.

However, just shy of the hour mark, came the eventual second goal. Josh Ashby was able to wangle his way through the Hemel defence, doing well to stay on his feet before slotting a low shot past Craig King from a tight angle. 

The most controversial decision came in the 64th minute when, Hemel Hempstead keeper, Craig King, handled the ball outside of the box and only received a yellow card for his actions, despite the whole stadium expecting the red. A let off for the hosts.

The Hoops managed to fire back quick from the upset moments later, with Ashby wizzing the ball over the cross bar from the free kick given for the handball.

With five minutes of additional time to play, the contest was all but over but the Hoops continued to apply pressure to the hosts. Lewis Miccio clipped a brilliant ball straight to Josh Parker who found himself  1 on 1 against King. However, the keeper stood his ground and denied the striker with a brilliant save. 

It wasn't to remain 2-0 for long though, as Parker finally got the brace he deserved. He settled things with the final kick of the game, sealing the 3 points for The Hoops after the hosts failed to clear their lines and the ball dropped to him inside the box. He smashed the ball into the net to put the icing on the cake! 

Attendance: 462 

Oxford City Starting XI: Kanuric, Miccio, Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Fleet, McEachran (Davies 80'), Parker, Dawes (Potter 74'), Williams-Bushell, Carroll 

Subs not used: Lolos, Carbon, Wilson