A fine strike from Jacob Roddy wasn't quite enough for Oxford City this afternoon as an equaliser from skipper Danny Philliskirk saw Southport hit back for a point at Court Place Farm in a thoroughly entertaining 1-1 draw.

With Josh Ashby and Lewis Coyle suspended and Corie Andrews injured, City were forced into changes but the new-look eleven settled quickly, dominating the first half hour in particular and full value for their point against a strong Sandgrounders side.

In that first 30 minutes there was a Jayden Carbon effort that  caused visiting keeper Chris Renshaw problems, there were a couple of shouts for penalties plus a Josh Parker header caught by the keeper as City made all the running.

Midfielder Tom Scott’s introduction has played a big part in the Hoops’ recent revival and one clever touch half way through the half illustrated that perfectly as he touched the ball around a stranded Southport defender to create a shooting chance that-would have been Goal of the Season if he had caught it better. Or, indeed, scored.

Southport adjusted for the last fifteen minutes of the half without truly testing keeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle - Danny Lloyd flicking an unchallenged header wide and a corner nodded past the same post as they closed the first half strongly.

However, five minutes after the break City had the lead they deserved when the tireless Parker roared to the line and cut the ball back. Roddy had plenty to do as the ball bounced awkwardly up in front of him but showed superb technique to smash the ball past the helpless Renshaw for a superb first goal of the season.

City looked set fair but there had been warnings from set pieces and on the hour the Sandgrounders were level when a deep ball in to the box was headed goalwards. McKenzie-Lyle did well to plunge to his left and push the ball away but Philliskirk  has enjoyed a long career based on being in the right place at the right time and had a simple task of planting the ball back into the empty net to level at 1-1. 

A good game to watch now became a thriller. McKenzie-Lyle made an identical save from a similar header on 68, this time with nobody following up, but The Hoops were fighting for everything and now look far more robust than they did in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Two evenly-matched sides but City are improving with every game that play. as one defeat in five games shows. Definitely moving in the right direction as they head for Hereford...

CITY

McKenzie-Lyle, Burley, Jones, Fleet, McEachran, Parker, Scott, Potter, Carbon, Roddy, Drewe

Subs:  Kpekawa, Siddik, Walsh, Croker, McConnell

ATT: 505

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Simon Godfrey