Oxford City dug deep and produced a battling performance to share the spoils with a 1-1 draw at fellow promotion chasers, Leamington.
Missing a number of the regular starers, City’s attack was led by 18-year-old Oliver Taylor, on loan from League One side Wycombe Wanderers, and Pablo Haysham, making his second start after being promoted from the Nomads side. In a highly entertaining game, City had to weather long periods of concerted pressure from the Brakes but City’s back four of James Clarke, Adam Learoyd, Chris Wilmott and Marvin Martin looked solid throughout.
Jason Mooney, returning to the City goal after missing the previous game through injury, brought off two fine saves to deny Michael Tuohy and Asa Charlton. City had their best spell just before the break with Liam Malone and Declan Benjamin bossing the midfield. Reece Fleet and Benjamin forced Nathan Vaughan in the Brakes goal to make a smart double save before the visitors took the lead on the stroke of half time.
Oliver Taylor won the ball on the right hand side of the area and placed it into the path of Hasham. The City striker's shot hit a Brakes defender and looped over the stranded Vaughan and into the net. After the break, Richard Batchelor was denied by Mooney as the home side searched for the equaliser. It was going to take something special to beat the City 'keeper and on 68 minutes Stephan Morley duly delivered with an unstoppable low free kick from just outside the box.
City almost restored their lead two minutes later when Haysham weaved through the Brakes defence before seeing his shot tipped over the bar by Vaughan. The 'keeper came to the Brakes rescue again on 80 minutes when he raced off his line to deny City substitute Mark Bell. The Brakes won a succession of corners deep into stoppage time but the City defence were not going to be denied their well deserved point.
