A late goal from Tom Pugh secured a point for Moors against Oxford City on a frustrating afternoon in National League North at The Brewery Field.

DJ Sturridge opened the scoring for the visitors early in the second half with a tap-in at the back post, before Tom Pugh equalised with 15 minutes to go after slotting home from inside the area.

The Hoops had a chance to get forward with just four minutes on the clock, as a slip from Olly Dyson allowed Sturridge to get in behind. The number 11 burst into the area and looked to square a pass to his teammate but saw it well cut out by Pugh.

Some half chances fell Moors’ way soon after, as Dyson and Matty Dolan both lumped long balls forward, only to be claimed by Jamie Pardington.

Junior Mondal posed a threat for the visitors down the left flank, when he broke into the box and played a ball into the path of Mackenzie Heaney inside the area. However, good defending prevented the number 7 from getting a shot away.

Moors came forward again on the 28th minute mark as Mondal laid the ball off to Glen Taylor. The frontman let fly with a first-time strike, only to see his effort fly over the bar.

Good work from Rob Ramshaw on the half hour mark saw him backheel the ball into the path of Heaney, who drove to the edge of the area, but steered his effort into the open arms of Pardington.

Dan Jones was called into defensive action with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, when he slid in to prevent Ewan Clark’s goalward attempt from posing any real threat to Brad James.

There were chances at both ends as the first period came to a close, first for Moors as Taylor fired over from inside the area, before Josh Ashby’s ball across the face of goal just evaded Clark at the back post.

With the deadlock still yet to be broken at the break, Moors came out looking to take the lead early in the second half.

A long throw into the area from Jones was only half cleared and landed at the feet of Dolan on the edge of the area. The midfielder struck the ball on the half volley, only to see his low driven effort go wide.

However, it was the visitors that went on to open the scoring just nine minutes into the second half. A brilliant run across the by-line from Zach McEachran saw him get around the Moors defence and slip an inviting ball across the face of goal, which was met at the back post by Sturridge, who made no mistake and prodded home from close range.

Moors were so close to an equaliser soon after the hour mark, when Pugh’s corner found Dan Rowe at the front post. The defender got his head to the ball, but just couldn’t keep his effort down, as the ball flew over the bar.

Good defending from the visitors nullified Moors’ attacks with 20 minutes to go, as Heaney had his cross claimed by Pardington, before Pugh saw his inswinging corner cleared.

Graeme Lee’s men continued to put pressure on the Oxford goal, this time through Rob Ramshaw, who drove along the by-line. The number 10 got into space and slipped a ball towards the edge of the area, which was picked up by Pugh, only for him to strike over the bar.

The loanee made no mistake with the next chance he got though, as he levelled the scores with 15 minutes left to play. Good passing work from Moors around the edge of the area saw Taylor slip a ball through to Pugh, who slotted a first-time effort home to draw Moors level.

Substitute Cam Salkeld almost made an instant impact from the bench when he picked a good pass to Ramshaw in the 18-yard box, only for the midfielder to smash his effort over the crossbar.

Both Ashby and McEachran had efforts go off target in the 84th minute, before Isaac Westendoorf was prevented from getting on the scoresheet by the oncoming Brad James just a minute later.

The Hoops went close again soon after as Heaney was forced to clear the ball off the line with three minutes of normal time remaining, while Westendoorf had another effort blocked by James.

Full Time: Moors 1 Oxford City 1

Moors: James, Dyson, Rowe (Salkeld 81), Jones, Hill (Beals 66), Dolan (Hancox 67), Pugh (Robson 87), Heaney, Ramshaw, McKeown (Mondal 59), Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson, Green.

Booked: Beals (90).

Oxford City: Pardington, Burroughs, Wiggett, Johnson, Roddy, Ashby, Humphrey-Evans, Daniel (Westendoorf 70), McEachran, Clark (Parker 90), Sturridge (Bearne 90).
Subs not used: Wilson, Francis, Ellis, Potter.

Booked: Bearne (90), Ashby (90).

Referee: Darren Rogers

Attendance: 1,052

Written by Noah Betts