A solid point at Spotland.

Rochdale 2

Mittchell 11'

Mather 77'

Oxford City 2

Greenslade 27'

Parker 35'

Goals from Harvey Greenslade and Josh Parker weren’t enough for the Hoops as Oxford City secured a well-earned 2-2 draw away at Rochdale in the Vanarama National League.

Kairo Mitchell had given the Dale the lead after ten minutes, but Greenslade’s first City goal and Parker’s twelfth goal of the season gave Ross Jenkins’ side a deserved lead at the interval.

However, despite a solid performance, City couldn’t keep Rochdale at bay as Sam Mather hammered Cian Hayes’ cross home with thirteen minutes to go.

Selection

Ross Jenkins made five changes to the side that narrowly lost to Aldershot last Saturday.

Charlie O’Connell came into the side to make his debut, after signing on loan from Peterborough United.

Whereas Reece Fleet, Brooklyn Kabongolo, Renny Smith, Alfie Potter and Jacob Roddy dropped out of the squad. Nya Kirby, Latrell Humphrey-Ewers, Harvey Greenslade & Andre Burley came into the squad.

Lewis Coyle made his 150^th appearance for the club.

The match

The Hoops controlled possession in the early stages, but despite that, they couldn’t fashion a chance in the first ten minutes.

However, despite the bright start, it was the hosts who almost went ahead. Sam Mather weaved his way through the crowd of red shirts on the edge of the box, but eventually dragged his left footed shot wide of the post.

Nevertheless, Dale did go ahead on ten minutes. A long ball forward flew over the head of the City backline, and Kairo Mitchell did well to work the space and fire past Goalkeeper Tom Watson to open the scoring.

The Hoops weren’t to be deterred though. This season, there have been moments where the opposition’s lead would increase. Not on this occasion.

Josh Parker was left wondering how he hadn’t pulled City back on level terms when he was played through on goal. However, Rochdale left-back Cameron John produced a stunning last-ditch sliding challenge to deny the City striker as he bore down on goal.

Nevertheless, they weren’t to be denied for long. The equaliser came (deservedly) just before the half-hour mark. O’Connell nodded Josh Ashby’s corner back into the six-yard box, and Harvey Greenslade was in the right place at the right time to fire home his first for the club.

A first National League goal for the Bristol Rovers loanee, and a moment he won’t forget.

In fact, Greenslade was a shining light for City throughout the ninety. The forward never stopped running and covered every blade of grass. Moreover, he became the instigator for City’s second goal.

This time, he latched onto Harry Birtwistle’s clever pass into the right channel and fizzed a cross into the box. Dale ‘keeper Tiernan Brooks could only parry the ball away from his goal and straight into the feet of Josh Parker.

From there, City’s top goalscorer did the rest and produced a composed finish to edge City ahead.

The boo’s on the half-time whistle from the Rochdale fans were perhaps a good indicator of City’s ascendancy in the first-half, as the team more than matched a team in the EFL last season.

Jimmy McNulty’s side had been second best in the contest, but the hosts expectedly came flying out of the traps after the interval.

Once again though, Oxford City more than matched their counterparts and almost extended their advantage.

A well-worked move culminated with Lewis Coyle’s fierce left-footed drive flying inches wide of the post.

What could’ve been on his 150^th appearance for the club?

But, queue the Dale onslaught. The 2,000 supporters inside the ground were reduced to moans & groans as Rochdale couldn’t find a way through the banks of red shirts giving everything for the cause.

However, Rochdale did find their goal.

Ciaran Hayes was a thorn in City’s side throughout the second-half, and his cross from the right wing found Mather inside the box, leaving the midfielder with a simple finish to equalise in the 77^th minute.

After the leveller, the atmosphere at the Crown Oil Arena sparked to life.

The home crowd thought that their side could steal all three points in the last ten minutes. They very nearly did…

Substitute Devante Rodney carried the ball forward from midfield and burst past City’s backline. However, when it mattered most, his finish deserted him.

The Rochdale attacker blazed his shot over the crossbar whilst he was one on one with Watson.

From there on there was a tense ending to the match, but once again City dug deep to defend their lines.

Ryan East’s last minute free-kick looked to cause the Hoops problems as Dale looked to snatch what would’ve been a cruel winner, but the final whistle confirmed a positive point for City.

The draw was City’s first result away from home in 2024. Next up, the simple task of facing champions-elect Chesterfield on Tuesday night.

Match Details

Attendance: 2,303 (26 Oxford City)

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Watson; Burley, Giles, O'Connell; Coyle (Kabongolo 90'), Birtwistle; Kirby (Fleet 73'), Humphrey-Ewers (Smith 78'); Greenslade, Ashby, Parker

Subs not used: Roddy, Kabongolo, Lumeka

Rochdale XI: 

Brooks, Gordon, John (Keohane 65'), East, Ebanks-Landell, Mitchell, Uchegbulam (Rodney 57'), Nevett, Hayes, Gilmour, Mather

Subs not used: Clayton, Sassi, Henderson