Quakers pegged back twice in thrilling 2-2 draw
By Ray Simpson
![Quakers pegged back twice in thrilling 2-2 draw](/storage/8220/conversions/17th-August-Oxford-City-2-Darlington-2-graphic-large.jpg)
First ever meeting between the clubs
Oxford City 2 Darlington 2
Goals: Forbes 18 mins, 0-1, Coyle 24 mins, 1-1, Main 33 mins, 1-2, Jones 77 mins 2-2
Quakers had to settle for a draw after being in the lead twice at Marsh Lane.
Quakers grabbed the advantage twice, but on the second occasion they had the opportunities to increase their lead at the start of the second half, but wasted them.
The crowd was treated to a frantic finale, with the woodwork hit three times in stoppage time.
One worry for Quakers though was striker Cedric Main going off with a hamstring injury after he scored the second goal, and he'll be missing for the Buxton game on Tuesday night.
Quakers conceded a corner in the first minute, but they managed to clear the ball at the near post.
Oxford then regained possession and Brad Stretton played a 1-2 and then hit a left foot shot that Toby Lees blocked.
Quakers survived the early pressure, and had a chance on 8 minutes when Jarrett Rivers played the ball out of defence for Cedric Main to lay off to Jack Maskell, who played the ball on for Main to run into the area and have a shot deflected over.
From the corner, the ball was crossed into the middle for Toby Lees to have a looping header saved.
Quakers had a great chance on 12 minutes when Oxford keeper McKenzie-Lyle failed to get any distance behind his clearance and the ball ran for Main, whose effort from 20 yards was saved by the recovering keeper at full stretch.
Quakers took a deserved lead on 18 minutes following another spell of pressure, A shot by Will Hatfield from the edge of the area was blocked on the line, but Elliot Forbes was first to react and tap the ball home.
But City stunned Quakers and levelled a few minutes later, with a right foot shot by Lewis Coyle, that flew past Jameson into the net.
Quakers went back in front on 33 minutes. Forbes won the ball in midfield and found Rivers. He played the ball on for Main, who ran into the box, and fired across the keeper into the net.
But he was injured in the course of scoring, so Andrew Nelson came on and replaced him.
Oxford nearly hit back when the ball was pulled back for Ashby to hit a right foot shot just wide of the left hand post, with the Quakers defence appealing for a foul.
Oxford nearly levelled just on half time, when Coyle turned 25 yards out and hit a left foot shot that Jameson pushed around the post.
Again Quakers had a chance on the break, with first Nelson and then Maskell having shots blocked inside the penalty area.
Half time Oxford City 1 Darlington 2
Quakers had the chances to go further ahead at the start of the second half.
Quakers had a chance on 48 minutes, The ball was played out to the left to Jarrett Rivers, who whipped the ball in for Elliott Forbes to have a flick saved by the keeper at the near post.
Quakers had a great chance when Hedley found Hatfield running forward on the right with a great crossfield ball, but the keeper pushed the skipper’s effort over the bar.
Quakers forced two corners in a minute, and from the second, Griffiths curled a right foot shot just wide from the edge of the area.
The visitors caused chaos from a Hedley free kick on 56 minutes, when Hatfield hoisted the ball up in the air at the far post, the keeper couldn’t gather, and Jack Maskell and Forbes couldn’t quite get on the end of the ball.
Oxford then had a great chance when McEachran found space on the edge of the Darlington box, but he fired weakly straight at Jameson.
Oxford levelled on 77 minutes. A corner was curled in from the right, Quakers didn't clear it, and Jalen Jones smashed the ball in.
The game really opened up after that, with chnaces going at both ends.
The home side nearly went 3-2 up when Stretton pulled the ball back for Ashby to slide into Jameson’s hands from ten yards.
Quakers had a chance on 86 minutes when Hatfield set up Nelson to have a shot blocked, and the ball ran for Salkeld, who couldn’t get enough power on his shot and the keeper saved.
Quakers nearly won it when they won possession 20 yards out, Will Flint chipped the stranded keeper and the ball came back off the bar for Nelson to have a shot turned around the post.
Then Cornish set up Nelson, who tried to chip the keeper with his left foot, but he saved.
But then Oxford nearly won it. Coyle’s effort came back off the right hand post with Jameson beaten, then he had another that cannoned back off the crossbar.
On the final whistle, players from both sides sank to their knees with exhaustion, they had given everything.
Final score: Oxford City 2 Darlington 2
Team: Jameson, Griffiths, Lees, Barrow, Hedley, Forbes, Hatfield, Flint, Rivers (sub Cornish 64), Main (sub Nelson 34), Maskell (sub Salkeld 85)
Subs: McGrath, Payne,
Team: McKenzie-Lyle, Burley, Ashby, Jones, Kpekawa, Coyle, Stretton, Parker, Potter, Carbon, Roddy
Subs: Fleet, Andrews, McEachran, Siddick, Elliott-Wheeler