Oxford City slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spennymoor Town on the final day in the 2024/25 National League North season.

Corey McKeown’s strike on the stroke of half-time decided an even game, but if it wasn’t for in-form Goalkeeper Brad James, the result could’ve been very different.

It was a youthful Oxford City squad that travelled to the North East. Five academy graduates were involved, with Phil Croker and Jayden Carbon starting.

Elsewhere, sixteen-year-old Kauan Bitencourt De Oliveira was on the bench alongside Josh McConnell and Tom Russell who were recalled from their loans at Kidlington and Ardley United respectively.

Spennymoor came into this game with the faintest chance of making the play-offs, and they started quickly but Oxford City survived an early spell of pressure.

The youthful City grew into the game too, and on the balance of play, they were the better team in the first-half.

Josh Ashby was hard-done by to see his fierce shot well-saved by Brad James, and Croker was agonisingly close to poking Aaron Drewe’s shot into the net after great work from the wing back.

In the absence of the injured Josh Parker, Carbon was leading the line brilliantly, and Phil Croker was his usual self.

Canice Carroll was also centre stage with five minutes to go when he made a superb sliding challenge to deny Corey McKeown.

The defining goal came right on the stroke of half-time. Corey McKeown turned with space on the edge of the box and sent a shot past McKenzie-Lyle against the run of play.

Half-Time: Spennymoor Town 1-0 Oxford City

After the interval, City came out fighting again, but they couldn’t find the all-important goal – no matter how hard they tried!

Josh Ashby would’ve been sick of the sight of Spennymoor ‘keeper James, as he tipped his shot over the crossbar seconds after the re-start, and then produced a stunning save to tip his fierce drive over the bar after the hour mark.

The Hoops kept pushing, but a steadfast Spennymoor defence stood in their way. In fact, as they pushed for a winner, the hosts caught them on the counter.

Kai McKenzie-Lyle produced a magnificent save to deny Glen Taylor whilst he was 1v1 with the ‘keeper, which kept Ross Jenkins’ side in the game.

At one point on a topsy turvy final day, Spennymoor were one goal away (a Warrington equaliser at Buxton) away from rising into the play-offs, and they kept pressing.

The woodwork saved City. Nathan Simpson ran through on goal, but couldn’t find the target as his curling shot crashed off the woodwork.

The introduction of sixteen year old De Oliveira gave City another attacking option in the dying moments, but it was a defender who almost snatched a point for City.

Canice Carroll, a force all game, powered forward but when he wiggled through to the edge of the box, he narrowly fired wide!

Not the result we wanted to end the season, but a performance to be encouraged by.

The last word goes to the superb travelling faithful who made the mammoth journey and could be heard all around The Brewery Field. See you next season!

Att 1,467

Oxford City Starting XI: McKenzie-Lyle, Burley, Ashby, McEachran, Carroll, Scott (Bitencourt De Oliveira 88'), Willcox, Croker, Carbon, Roddy (Putman 78'), Drewe

Subs not used: Russell, McConnell