FA Cup Abingdon United 3 - OCFC 4

“... Reprieve or another opportunity “ asked Andy in his last notes. Well, in the end, City made the most of another opportunity, but it was certainly done the hard way and our opponents could well feel a little disappointed at the final outcome. They certainly played well; shaded the first half, could have been in the lead by then; and the result was uncertain right up to the end of the extra three minutes of extra-time! Certainly a very different game from seven years ago when City last visited Northcourt Road in the FA Cup and notched up six without reply on their way to the First Round Proper.

The first half hour was quite a tense affair. For the home side there was a succession of corners with both Pierson and Holden going close, while at the other end Stewart had two good runs past the defence but couldn’t pick out a black-and-white shirt with the final pass.

City broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when Stewart broke up an Abingdon attack deep in his own half and picked out Ray Spence who took it on with pace, cut inside and shot well under Tricker. Abingdon continued to press: Ballard volleyed just over and Holden fired hard and low just across the face of Wilkins’ goal. Their pressure bore fruit just one minute from the break when Luke Holden equalised after a goalmouth scramble.

Half Time: Abingdon United 1-1 Oxford City

In the second half the visitors perhaps produced more shots, but mainly from long range: with Ryan Williams, Greg Williams and Merritt all firing just wide or over. Ray Spence brought a good save from Tricker from a narrow angle, and Wilkins at the other end parried a good strike from Brooks. Almost on the whistle Simms came very close to heading a winner for the hosts.

Full Time: Abingdon United 1-1 Oxford City

From the kick-off of extra-time city won a corner on the right and, though Mark Jones’ first kick was headed clear, he immediately returned the clearance for Lewis Craker to restore City’s lead. The yellow shirts poured forward with Brooks again bringing the best from Wilkins, and the equaliser came in the 111st minute when a quickly taken free kick was firmly headed home by an unmarked Herbert with Wilkins rooted to the centre of the goal.

In the second part of extra-time Brooks again went close when well placed in the 115th minute but, two minutes later, Ray Spence picked up a pass on the edge of the area and, making space for himself, fired a great shot past Tricker’s right-hand. Then, with the home side pressing forward, Spence was first to a bouncing ball and took it round the keeper to fire home City’s fourth. Not dispirited, United drove forward again and, into injury time, Mark Simms shot home a rebound to cut the deficit. Still the clock ticked on, but some fairly desperate clearances by the massed black-and-white defence ensured City hung on to claim a home tie against Chertsey in the next round.

Final Score: Abingdon United 3-4 Oxford City

City: Wilkins, Durrant, G. Williams, Brandon (Burnley 70), Craker, Marriott, Jones, Merritt, Stewart (Keen 80), Spence, R. Williams (Rendell 70).

P.S. Apologies to any Abingdon United readers for any errors with names ... but the lack of PA announcements meant there was a bit of guesswork involved!

Reporter: ChrisB