Zac McEachran’s dramatic 95^th minute equaliser secured Oxford City a vital point in the Vanarama National League South play-off race after a 2-2 draw with Braintree Town at the RAW Charging Stadium.

Jack Turner had given the Iron the lead ten minutes after the break, but Will Dawes’ first goal for the Hoops levelled the scores.

Braintree had to continue with ten-men for the last fifteen minutes of the match, when captain John White went off injured, but that didn’t seem to phase the Iron who went ahead through Aaron Blair in the 79^th minute.

However, McEachran's strike (on his 250th appearance for the club) deep into added time secured the point.

The game was also marred by controversy after McEachran was denied what looked to be a stonewall penalty and was instead booked for simulation ten minutes before half-time. A turning point that could've changed the game.

Ross Jenkins made three changes to the side that lost to Farnborough on Saturday. Canice Caroll missed out through illness, so Jack Davies replaced the centre-half. Elsewhere, Will Dawes made his full debut for the club and Josh Parker returned from suspension.

City were the better team in the first-half and got off to a quick start. Dawes saw a shot blocked by Town midfielder Turner and the on-loan Yeovil man went close again on eighteen minutes, curling a left-footed effort over the bar as City dominated the opening proceedings.

In honesty, the fans had to wait until the second-half for the drama, but the first-half had the most controversial highlight when McEachran was tripped in the box by Braintree ‘keeper Jack Sims.

The midfielder latched onto a ball from the midfielder and nudged the ball past Sims before being tripped by the goalkeeper. Referee Aaron Farmer blew his whistle straight away, but to the bemusement of the players and spectators in attendance, booked McEachran for simulation.

Half-Time: Oxford City 0-0 Braintree Town

The controversy at the end of the half seemed to spur the Hoops on after the interval. Lewis Coyle was sent through on goal but couldn’t fired a shot over the crossbar and Lewis Miccio also went close, heading wide from Josh Ashby’s free-kick in the early stages.

However, it was Braintree who took the lead against the run of play. Aaron Blair burst past the City backline and pulled the ball back to the edge of the area where Turner was waiting. The on-loan Southampton man then curled a great strike into the bottom corner of the net, leaving Kanuric rooted. 1-0.

City didn’t rest on their laurels though and levelled the scores when Will Dawes grabbed his first goal for the club. The lively midfielder had been causing Town problems all game, and when the ball dropped to him inside the area, he lashed an effort into the goal. 1-1.

Fifteen minutes from time, things went worse for Braintree. Captain John White went down with an injury and couldn’t continue. Furthermore, Iron manager Angelo Harrop had used all three of his substitutes and the away side had to play out the remainder of the game with ten-men.

Nevertheless, this didn’t seem to face the Essex side and they even went ahead with ten minutes to go!

Aaron Blair got the better of Jack Davies running through on goal and managed to delicately beat Kanuric from close-range to send the travelling Town fans into delirium.

From then on in, playing against ten-men was always going to be a tough task. Braintree had kept their shape well throughout the match (as they have done all season) and started to park the bus to maintain what would’ve been a huge result.

City on the other hand were starting to think that it wasn’t going to be their day, with all the decisions that had gone against them throughout the ninety. Yet, when the fourth official’s board showed an additional eight minutes, Jenkins’ side continued to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at their visitors with renewed vigour.

They were to get their rewards as well, albeit in the 95^th minute of the game. Substitute Alfie Potter broke through the back-line and found Parker in the six-yard box. The striker laid the ball on a plate to McEachran who smashed the ball into the net to salvage City a huge point in the play-off race.

An important result for City, who stop Braintree from gaining more ground in Vanarama National League South. However, with a bit of luck going their way, the Hoops could’ve had all three!

Next up, another tricky fixture away at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday.

Attendance: 257

Oxford City Starting XI: Kanuric, Davies, Miccio, Ashby, Burley, Coyle (Lolos 87’), Fleet, McEachran, Parker, Dawes (Potter 83’), Williams-Bushell

Subs not used: Carbon, Grantham, Wilson