The Hoops cruised to a 2-0 victory at the Velocity Stadium in front of a record competitive attendance.

Ross Jenkins opted to make like-for-like replacements from the team that faced Bath on the final game of the season, as Elliot Benyon and Canice Carroll replaced Dan Matsuzaka and Jacob Bancroft in the starting XI.

An ecstatic Velocity Stadium witnessed a hostile first ten minutes with both outfits testing the waters. However, the atmosphere lifted when Charley Kendall came close to pouncing on a back pass towards Ben Dudzinski, but the keeper’s calmness shone as he cleared the ball away from danger.

Despite early pressure from Eastbourne, Oxford grabbed a foothold in the game and dominated the first half. City’s first sniff at goal came from Zac McEachran as he soared into the Sports' penalty area to fire at goal where a deflection denied a certain goalscoring opportunity. 

It was not long before City capitalised on their pressure and kick-started their play-off campaign as Elliot Benyon broke the deadlock. Josh Ashby floated in a pinpoint cross from a corner and Benyon leapt up to plant his header into the top left corner, out of the reach of the diving Lee Worgan.

On the half hour mark, George Harmon shrugged off two defenders as he drove towards the box from the left and switched the play for Ewan Clark. The youngster cut inside onto his left foot and curled an effort towards goal, skimming the outside of the far post, much to the astonishment of the City faithful.

The Sports were limited to a few half chances as both Chris Whelpdale and James Vaughan fired from distance to see their efforts sail wide of the mark.

City’s first half control continued up until the whistle as they ended the half in the ascendency. McEachran was allowed to drive into the penalty area and find Iaciofano as an outlet for a first-time effort, but the Eastbourne defence were quick to block and deny any opportunity.

Halftime: Oxford City 1 – 0 Eastbourne Borough

An already tense game became a feisty second half affair with challenges flying in left, right and center from both outfits. One of which saw Charlie Walker booked for a late challenge on Reece Fleet where the first of many melees ensued.

Benyon proved to be a menace in the box and scared the Eastbourne defence with multiple chances within a ten-minute spell. Most notably, a sixty-third minute header, after a cross from Harmon on the left found Benyon in the Sports 18-yard box which forced a save from Worgan in between the sticks.

In the 77^th minute, City took one step closer to the play-off semi final as they extended their lead when Harmon nodded home from close-range. Clark danced into the 6-yard from the right to strike at goal which was pounced upon by Worgan and rebounded into the air. Harmon was the first to react and nodded home on the line and the Velocity Stadium erupted.

Ross Jenkins' side contained the small amount of threat the Sports produced and limited the opposition to a tame header and long ranged off-target effort from Luke Nippard in the final five minutes of the match.

City aim to carry onto the momentum as they travel to Meadbowbank to face a strong Dorking Wanderers side in the play-off semi-finals on Saturday.

Fulltime: Oxford City 2 – 0 Eastbourne Borough

Starting XI: Dudzinski, Asare, Harmon, Ashby, Rowan, Fleet ©, Benyon, McEachran, Iaciofano (Bancroft), Clark, Carroll

Unused Subs: Matsuzaka, Coyle, Owusu, DaSilva

Attendance: 1,349 (New Competitive Record)