City share the spoils in scintillating draw.

Oxford City 2

Burley 16'

Sanderson 37'

Kidderminster Harriers 2

Hemmings 43' (Penalty)

Morgan-Smith 53'



Oxford City were pegged back from 2-0 up as they drew 2-2 with fellow relegation rivals Kidderminster Harriers.

Goals from Andre Burley and Olly Sanderson gave the Hoops a deserved lead, but a penalty by Ashley Hemmings late in the first half, followed by an early second half equaliser by Amari Morgan-Smith meant the Hoops were consigned to just a point.

SELECTION

The only changes made by Ross Jenkins after the midweek defeat to York were Andre Burley and Josh Parker, who returned from international duty earlier this week and came straight back into the team, replacing Alex McQueen and Tafari Moore, who dropped to the bench.

First-Half

After a cagey first ten minutes, City sprung into life. Mitchell Roberts’ volley was blocked well by the Kidderminster defence, but it wouldn’t be long before the deadlock was broken.

Andre Burley burst into the box, before playing the ball to Josh Parker, who was picked off, but Burley continued his run, blocking the attempted clearance, which ricocheted into the bottom corner.

Kidderminster grew into the game, creating a couple of half-chances, but City’s defence was holding up well, and they got their reward on the counter with ten to go in the first half.

Canice Carroll played a defence-splitting ball over the top to Sanderson, who plucked it out of the air with his first touch, before using his second to guide the ball into the far corner to double City’s advantage.

It wouldn’t last long however, as less than five minutes later, Kidderminster won a penalty for a handball in the area, which Ashley Hemmings rolled into the bottom right.

City saw it through till half-time and went into the break ahead.

Half-Time: Oxford City 2-1 Kidderminster Harriers

Second-half

Kidderminster came out for the second half fired up, and got their reward soon after the restart. Some nice linkup between Lambert and Morgan-Smith resulted in the latter smashing it past Bycroft to level the scores.

Both teams were now hunting for that goal to go ahead, and Parker went close when his shot from the edge of the area rolled just wide.

Kidderminster were threatening too, with both Reiss McNally and Hemmings forcing low saves from Bycroft.

With 15 to go, Parker saw his header cannon down off the bar, but the offside flag was raised regardless.

Latrell Humphrey-Ewers then curled a free kick from a central position just wide of the top right corner.

But the Harriers continued piling on the pressure up the other end, and it took some brilliant last-man defending from Cole Kpekawa to block multiple efforts on goal, from Bailey Hobson and then substitute Ben Tollitt.

In added time, City countered, with the ball finally falling to Olly Sanderson, who’s shot on the swivel was palmed away excellently by Harriers keeper Christian Dibble.

The resulting corner somehow found its way to Kpekawa at the back stick, but the defender was unable to react in time to turn it goalwards.

Kidderminster had one final chance on the breakaway, but Hemmings blasted way over, and the sides had to share the points.

Match Details

Attendance: 910 (257 Kidderminster)

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Bycroft, Burley, Coyle (Moore 90’), Sanderson, McEachran(McQueen 68’), Roberts, Parker (Fleet 77’), Smith, Carroll, Humphrey-Ewers, Kpekawa

Subs not used: Miccio, Williams-Bushell

Kidderminster Harriers XI: 

Dibble, Penny, Richards, Pearce, McNally, Morgan-Smith, Hemmings, Lambert (Brown 90’), Lissimore, McLean (Tollitt 82’), Hobson

Subs not used: Oxlade-Chamberlain, McDonagh, Preston