In search of his first three points since his appointment, Ross Jenkins made two changes to the side following defeat in their last Vanarama National League South fixture away to Billericay Town.

Dan Matsuzaka and Cole DaSilva made way for Nana Owusu and Jacob Bancroft in the starting XI and new signing Hamzad Kargbo was included in the matchday squad.

Dartford came bursting out of the blocks with bundles of energy and capitalised on their early momentum, earning themselves a penalty in only the second minute when Charlie Rowan brought down Jake Robinson in the box.

Marcus Dinanga stepped up to take and placed it just over the diving Ben Dudzinski to give the Dart’s an early lead.

After a battle in the center of the field for the next 20 minutes, Zac McEachran won the ball and split the Dartford centerbacks finding Joe Iaciofano on the left for an effort on goal, but goalkeeper Reece Charles-Cook read the play well and dived on top of the strike to deny the effort. 

However, soon after, Joe Iaciofano would get his goal. Josh Ashby’s cutback into the penalty area found Iaciofano 12-yards from goal and he calmly finished into the bottom left corner to equalise for the Hoops.

The visitors responded with a number of half chances, one coming from a well worked move down the left where Kristian Campbell’s looping ball to the back post ended with an off-target volley from Danny Leonard.

City ended the half the stronger of the two sides after Ashby’s strike on goal in the 45^th minute caused Charles-Cook to scramble and hold onto the powerful shot.

Halftime: Oxford City 1 – 1 Dartford

Just after the whistle, McEachran put Iaciofano in a one-on-one with the keeper, yet Charles-Cook was out quickly to deny any opportunity.



Dartford’s attempt to regain the lead was again reduced to a flurry of half-chances from the edge of the box by Samie Carruthers, Tom Bonner, and substitute Kalvin Kalala, though none of the attempts troubled Dudzinski in between the sticks.

With 20 minutes left to play, Kalala had a golden chance to put Dartford ahead. After plucking the ball from the air, the forward drove down the middle of the park, however with a teammate open either side he chose to fire a strike over the bar, much to the frustration of everyone in Dartford colours.

City substitute Hamzad Kargbo had his first attempt on goal in a City shirt, cutting inside onto his left and trying to find the bottom left corner, only to be denied by the fingertips of Charles-Cook.

The Hoops continued to apply pressure on Dartford’s net through both George Harmon and Ashby but their efforts were off target and saved, respectively.

A strong performance from City grabbed a needed point in their bid for a promotion play off position. In their next fixture, Ross Jenkin’s side travel to Champion Hill to take on Dulwich Hamlet fellow promotion play-off challengers.

Fulltime: Oxford City 1 - 1 Dartford

Starting XI: Dudzinski, Asare, Harmon, Ashby, Rowan, Fleet ©, McEachran (Coyle 82’), Owusu, Bancroft (Kargbo 63’), Iaciofano (Benyon 89’), Kyprianou

Unused Subs: Matsuzaka, DaSilva