A successful afternoon in Oxfordshire saw Moors bring home all three points as they overcame the Hoops at The MGroup Stadium.
Moors opened the scoring through a smart finish from Rob Ramshaw, before Zac McEachran equalised just after the half-hour mark. However, it was Glen Taylor who got the decisive goal, slamming home a freekick late on.
The hosts could’ve been in front inside 60 seconds as Isaac Westendorf got in behind one on one with Brad James. The Moors number 1, however, stood his ground and snuffed out the early threat.
Corey McKeown almost broke the deadlock just nine minutes in as he curled an effort goalward from the edge of the area, which forced Sam Lewis into a brilliant save to deny the winger.
Moors came forward again through Matty Dolan, who unleashed a strike on goal from the edge of the area. However, the strike was well saved by Lewis, who did well to keep hold of the shot.
Graeme Lee’s side did open the scoring on the 23rd minute, through stalwart Rob Ramshaw. A flighted ball from Mackenzie Heaney found the number 10, who made no mistake as he fired low, past Lewis, to give Moors the lead.
McKeown looked to double the lead on the half-hour mark, but saw his low strike comfortably saved by Lewis.
Moors’ lead didn’t last long, as The Hoops found their response on the 32nd minute. Possession was lost in midfield, and Zac McEachran drove into the box and stabbed a shot on goal which deflected past James for 1-1.
The hosts closed the half the stronger of the two sides, as Jacob Roddy swung a corner towards the centre of the penalty area, which met the head of Charlie Wiggett. Although, his header went well over the bar.
With the scores level at the break, Moors looked to start the second half with intent. A scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Taylor, who had his well-placed strike saved, with Dolan’s follow up blocked on the edge.
Taylor went close again on the 55th minute as Ramshaw headed back across to the number 9, who headed just over the bar from inside the area.
City looked had a half chance go begging as James got down well to stop captain, Josh Ashby’s strike on goal, before Tom Scott tried his luck with an ambitious volley inside the area, only to see it fly well over the bar.
Moors found the back of the net on the 81st minute as Dolan’s strike was parried into the path of Cam Salkeld, who tapped home from close range. However, the linesman’s flag was raised, and therefore the game restarted at 1-1. A lucky break for the hosts.
That didn’t matter thought, as just four minutes later Glen Taylor thumped home his fourth goal of the season from a deal ball 20 yards out to put Moors in the driving seat.
A fortunately placed free kick gave the frontman a golden opportunity to give his side the lead, an opportunity that the captain had no second thoughts in taking. Taylor stepped up and fired the free kick into the bottom right corner of the net, sending the Moors faithful behind the goal into raptures.
A great response to Tuesday evening’s loss, as Moors take home all three points. Focus will now swiftly shift to Bank Holiday Monday’s fixture at home to Macclesfield.
Full Time: Oxford City 1 Moors 2
Oxford City: Lewis, Roddy (Daniel 87), Ashby, Johnson, Westendorf, McEachran, Campton-Sturridge (Parker 58), Wiggett, Scott (Bampoh 90), Potter, Burroughs (Wilson 77).
Subs not used: Treml, Humphrey-Ewers, McConnell.
Booked: Jones (15), Pollock (75), Salkeld (90).
Moors: James, Dyson, Jones (Hill 63), Rowe, Heaney (Beals 88), Taylor, Ramshaw, Mondal (Doherty 68), Pollock, McKeown (Salkeld 68), Dolan.
Subs not used: Hancox, Johnson.
Referee: Jason Porter
Attendance: 620
Written by Noah Betts
