Oxford game ends in stalemate

City had to settle for a point against Oxford City as the sides drew 0-0 in a game of few chances.

Neither side created many clear cut chances, but City kept an eighth clean sheet of the season thanks to Jose Veiga’s stunning save from Tom Winter’s powerfully struck free kick in the second half.

Niall Thompson and Reece Hales dropped to the bench after City’s midweek FA Cup win against Rugby Town, with Daniel Nti and Phil Trainer returning to the side in a game described as the Oxford’s most important game to date by boss Mike Ford.

Oxford came closest in the opening stages of a first half. Jamie Cook’s clever lofted through ball found Tom Winters on the left, who clipped the ball back to Steve Basham, only for the veteran striker to fire wide of the near post.

Midway through the half, George Williams’s back pass bobbled in front of Veiga, whose attempt to return the ball to the full back under pressure went out of play. Lee Henderson headed over from the resulting corner. City breathed a sigh of relief.

Shortly after, Richard Taundry won possession in his own area with a well-timed challenge before finding Thorley out on the left with an accurate through ball. Thorley found Nti, who evaded several challenges, but couldn’t find the space to pull off a shot, and was dispossessed.

Just before the hour mark, Tom Winters fizzed in a free kick from the right which could have easily been flicked into the City net, but it evaded all the bodies in the six yard box and bounced just wide of the post.

Graham Hutchinson had the chance to head City in front from a Tom Thorley corner, but he put his effort over the bar, with neither goalkeeper being forced to make a real save during a goalless first half.

Worcester started the second half brightly and forced goalkeeper Victor Francoz into action for the first time. Tom Thorley retrieved possession in midfield before evading several challenges with some nifty footwork. He fed Danny Glover, but the frontman’s shot from distance was scrambled wide by Francoz.

Ten minutes after the restart, Richard Taundry’s long range pass picked out Tom Thorley in the box, with the skipper calmly heading the ball back across goal to Glover, but he fired wide at the near post.

Worcester enjoyed much of the action in the second half. Daniel Nti broke clear of the offside trap, evading his marker Lee Henderson, but skewed his shot wide of the target under pressure from the recovering defender.

Jose Veiga was finally called into action in the 70th minute in arguably the best moment of a rather dull game after Oxford were awarded a free kick on the right hand side. Jamie Cook teed the left footed Tom Winters, who hammered a shot destined for the top corner, only for Veiga to dive to the right of his goal to tip the ball wide.

City threw on frontman Ethan Moore and winger Niall Thompson in an attempt to snatch the win. Oxford also brought on former City striker, and top scorer for the past two seasons, Mike Symons, in the 71st minute, stating their attacking intent.

And Oxford came back into the game in the latter stages of the half. First, Andy Ballard teed the ball past an onrushing Phil Trainer to the lively Tom Winters, whose shot was deflected wide, before Winters struck a fizzing volley from the edge of the area straight into the chest of Veiga.

City had late penalty appeals denied as Trainer clipped the ball down the line to the pacey Thompson, who skipped past Oxford full-back Declan Benjamin, and tried to cut inside down the bye line. Thompson tumbled, but the referee denied the claims. The game was to end goalless.

Manager, Carl Heeley, believed his side deserved at least a point.

“We were the only team trying to play any football that’s for certain. We’ve come away to the biggest spenders in the league and they just whacked it and hoped for the best and I thought we defended it comfortably. I’m pleased with our boys today, they’ve grafted hard, they’ve worked, they’ve matched them, and it’s the least we deserve”, said Heeley.

Attentions will now turn to City’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie against Conference Premier side Lincoln City at Aggborough on Saturday, with the winner progressing to the first round of the FA Cup.

Attendance: 291