Second-half goals from George Harmon & Joe Iaciofano extended Oxford City's unbeaten run after a 2-0 win away at Tonbridge Angels.
The Hoops bounced back from a home draw to Chelmsford City, with David Oldfield’s side picking up maximum points on the road. The trip down to Kent was successful for City, as they remained unbeaten in the last 6 Vanarama National League South games.
City started this afternoon making only one change to the starting lineup. Canice Carroll replaced the suspended Josh Asbhy in the centre of the park. The rest of the eleven remained unchanged from last week’s match with Chelmsford.
However, following a lengthy period out injured, creative midfielder Alfie Potter returned to the bench..
In the first ten minutes of the match, City had the ball in the net twice but were denied by the linesman's flag on both occasions. Firstly, Harmon tapped the ball home after Iaciofano hit the post and the latter also placed the ball into the net just six minutes later.
In the first half, the most dangerous man in a blue shirt was Joe Turner, and he tested the City backline on multiple occasions but each effort went inches wide of the target. Ben Dudzinski was left untested.
City’s last chance of the half came 10 minutes before the interval when Iaciofano rolled in the overlapping Canice Carroll. The defensive minded midfielder tried to slip the ball past the goalkeeper, but Henly outstretched leg kept the scores level.
HT: Tonbridge Angels 0-0 Oxford City
If the first-half was more of a lacklustre affair, the second was far from it and the Hoops got off to a flying start instantly.
Iaciofano held the ball up well before back-heeling a pass to the determined George Harmon. The City defender then rocketed a left foot strike past the helpless Henly to put the Hoops ahead in the 47th minute.
Iaciofano would have more chances in the second-half. However, Angels Goalkeeper Jonathan Henly was equal to both the striker's efforts.
He would finally get his just rewards though. On the hour mark, neat link up play from Zac McEachran and Elliot Benyon led to the latter flicking the ball round the corner for Iaciofano to fire home from inside the box and score his 6th goal in as many games.
Late in the game the hosts thought they’d found a way back into the game. The ball was headed past Dudzinski by Ricky Modeste but the linesman put an end to the Tonbridge celebrations with an offside call and in-turn maintaining the City clean sheet.
The final chance of the game fell to second-half substitute Jacob Bancroft who powered down the sideline but couldn’t put enough curl on the ball to score the 3rd from a tight-angle.
Another win on the road for City and David Oldfield's men now rise to third in Vanarama National League South.
Full Time: Tonbridge Angels 0 – 2 Oxford City
Starting XI:
Dudzinski, Asare, Harmon, Carroll, Matsuzaka, Fleet, Benyon (Bradbury 71’), McEachran (Coyle 86’), Owusu, Iaciofano (Bancroft 80’), Davies
Subs not used: Potter, Kyprianou