Josh Ashby’s neat finish & Josh Parker’s brave header gave City a 2-0 lead going into half-time, before the hosts scored two superb goals to level the game. 

After 120 minutes in the legs after Tuesday’s mammoth trip to Plymouth Parkway, Ross Jenkins made two changes to his starting line-up. Lewis Miccio and Jean-Baptiste Fischer replaced Lewis Coyle and Aaron Williams-Bushell. 

The hosts dominated proceedings in the first-half and City had Ben Dudzinski to thank after the Hoops’ number one denied Rubem Soares-Junior’s header from an Angels corner after ten minutes.

However, despite being on the back foot, it was City who edged ahead through Josh Ashby. Fischer laid the ball into the box for Ashby to run on to and the midfielder unleashed a pin-point drive into the opposite corner to open the scoring. 

City continued to grow into the game but couldn’t find their rhythm. Klaidi Lolos had two chances to extend City’s lead but couldn’t get enough power to trouble Jonathan Henly from awkward angles.

Despite that, City went into the interval with a two-goal cushion. A super strike from outside the box by Lewis Coyle cannoned off the post and into the path of Josh Parker who nodded home. 

A super goal from the striker who followed Coyle's shot into the six-yard box to be there for the rebound (and took a hit from the woodwork for his troubles).

Half-time: Tonbridge Angels 0-2 Oxford City 

The second-half came to life just eight minutes after the re-start. A superb strike from Soares-Junior left Dudzinski with no chance when he found the top corner after cutting onto his left foot from outside the box. 

The comeback was complete after the hour mark, when Jeremy Santos’ stunning drive found the net from 25-yards out.

Jenkins’ side can maybe feel aggrieved that they weren’t handed a penalty with ten minutes to go, when Aaron Williams-Bushell was bundled over in the box. However, the referee waved away the protests of the City players.

Williams-Bushell stayed down after the challenge, sustaining a nasty injury and couldn’t continue. The treatment the full-back received took time and sparked fourteen minutes of injury time.

However, despite this, City couldn’t find a way past an inspired Henly. The Tonbridge ‘keeper palmed away Reece Fleet’s attempt from inside the box deep into added time and showed great reflexes to get down to his left to tip Charlie Rowan’s header behind for a corner.

A frustrating afternoon for City who never really found their best tempo in the game.

Attention now turn to Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Tie away at Hornchurch, with a place in the first round proper up for grabs.

Attendance: 1,073

Oxford City Starting XI: Dudzinski, Miccio (Coyle 32’), Ashby, Rowan, Fleet ©, McEachran, Lolos, Parker (Williams-Bushell 72’(Burley 80’)), Harrison, Fischer, Carroll

Subs not used: Iaciofano, Humphrey-Ewers