City bow out of Oxfordshire Senior Cup at Semi-Final stage.

Thame United 2

Carbon 78'

Lack 87'

Oxford City 1

Duggan 70'

A late comeback from Thame United saw them come from behind to beat City 2-1 in the semi-final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup at North Leigh tonight.

Leading through a Kian Duggan goal City were stunned by strikes from Jayden Carbon and Ethan Lack that sent Thame through to a final against Kidlington.

The Southern League side started the brighter and took advantage of the Eynsham Park slope in the opening minutes with much-travelled striker Jefferson Louis leading by example up front.

City then settled and Brookyln Kabongolo saw a header kicked off the line after 15 minutes as they applied pressure for the first time.

Phil Croker saw a similar chance comfortably gathered by Red Kite keeper Archie Davis but it took a good save from Marcin Brzozowski after 27 minutes to deny Lack from distance.

The best three chances of the first-half all came just before the break and from the Hoops.

Firstly, a superb through ball from Duggan set Harry Birtwistle free only for Davis to dive at his feet. Then a fine strike from Aaron Williams-Bushell smacked off the left-hand post and was cleared, before a curling effort from the excellent Jacob Roddy crept wide of the far post with the keeper beaten.

The game tightened up after the break- a snatched effort from Jayden Carbon for Thame and a blocked Birtwistle effort at the other end the closest we came to a breakthrough before Duggan strode on to the ball on the edge of the box and rifled City into a 70th minute lead.

That threw the game wide open. There were further chances for City to make the game safe, but on 78 minutes the Red Kites were back on even terms when Carbon’s free-kick sneaked inside the near post to make it 1-1.

City threw men forward to try and win the game and were inches away from restoring their lead on several occasions but then with three minutes to go Lack let fly from 25-yards and it was Thame who were through to the final.

A good cup tie and a chance for City to look at one or two options and their younger players who will learn from the experience.

Good luck to Thame in the final and our thanks to North Leigh for their hospitality.

Oxford City Starting XI

Brzozowski, Duggan, Roddy, Roberts, Smith, Williams-Bushell, Birtwistle, Kabongolo, Lumeka (Bacon 59), Croker, Krasniqi

Subs not used

Bartlett, Jabari, McConnell, Osbourne