Alfie Potter had given City the lead in a positive first-half, however the hosts fought back to nick a point as both teams finished the game with ten-men. 

Ross Jenkins made one change to the side that beat Worthing 3-0 on Saturday. Klaidi Lolos dropped to the bench and Alfie Potter replaced him in a straight swap. 

The game took a while to get going and the hosts, as they showed in the reverse fixture, kept their shape well and kept chances to a minimum as both sides battled attempted to gain a foothold. 

The first chance of the half came from a set-piece. Josh Ashby sent a dipping strike towards goal via a free-kick 25-yards out from goal, but Town ‘keeper Jack Bycroft produced a great save to tip the effort wide. 

City continued to assert themselves in the contest and Josh Parker forced another save out of Bycroft with a fierce effort from an awkward angle. 

However, City got their just rewards just before the half-hour mark. Josh Ashby saw his curled effort bounce back off the post but Alfie Potter was alert to the situation and tapped in the rebound to give the Hoops the lead. 

Despite City having the better of the first-half, Taunton did have their chances. Adnan Kanuric was forced into a save from Lee Lucas but the on-loan Nottingham Forest ‘keeper was well equipped to parry the ball behind for a corner. 

Although, normal service was resumed moments later and Taunton were lucky to survive a late onslaught in the first-half. 

Zac McEachran’s beautifully clipped pass over the hosts’ backline landed straight at the feet of Lewis Coyle, but the winger sent his volley wide of the mark. Lewis Miccio may also have been disappointed not to add a second goal after he couldn’t direct a header on target after he rose highest to meet Ashby’s cross. 

After the interval, the hosts emerged a rejuvenated side, but the City backline stood strong as the Taunton attackers tried their best to break the Hoops down. 

Sims-Burgess was a particular thorn in City’s side, heading an effort wide four minutes after the break. In fact, the striker could’ve equalised just before the hour mark, but Canice Carroll produced a great block to deny him, as the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the match. 

Furthermore, Lewis Coyle was on hand to keep City ahead moments after, clearing an effort off the line just before the hour mark. 

The game can rightly be consigned to the old cliche ‘a game of two halves’ as the hosts continued to push for an equaliser. They should’ve had it in the 64th minute, but when Ollie Chamberlain skied a golden opportunity with the goal gaping, Taunton fans must’ve been wondering how he missed!

From then on in, the rhythm of the game was regularly broken up by fouls, as the referee went to his whistle on multiple occasions, leading to the first red card of the game three minutes from time. 

Lee Lucas’ foul on Reece Fleet was late and high, and he had no complaints when the referee brandished a second yellow card. 

Entering the final stages of the game, the Hoops remained a force to be reckoned with on the counter-attack, but were unable to find that all-important goal to kill the game. 

Both sides ended with ten though, as Josh Parker suffered the same fate as Lucas. The City striker was adjudged to have kicked the ball away in stoppage time, an action that landed him a second booking.

The fourth official held up five minutes of added time which meant the Hoops would have to dig deep for a little longer, but unfortunately the team succumbed to the late pressure from Taunton. 

A free-kick on just inside the City half gave the hosts the perfect opportunity to lump a ball into the box, and Sims-Burgess managed to poke home a shot in a crowded box to rescue a point for the hosts and break City hearts.

All in all though, a point on the road extends City’s unbeaten run in 2023 and the Hoops gain ground on opponents after results elsewhere. 

Next up, a difficult trip to Dartford on Saturday.

Oxford City Starting XI: Kanuric, Miccio, Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Fleet, McEachran (Iaciofano 94’), Parker, Potter (Lolos 87’), Williams-Bushell, Carroll

Subs not used: Grantham, Carbon, Davies