Recap: Harriers 1-1 Oxford

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HARRIERS maintained an unbeaten start to the season after netting late to draw 1-1 with Oxford City at Aggborough.

Alex Penny’s effort in front of the North Stand gave the home faithful an equaliser they – and the team’s second half showing – had deserved after a more uncertain first 45.

The visitors enjoyed the brighter early moments, Jacob Ashby striking the bar from a free-kick midway through the first half after Zach McEachran had earlier gone close with a shot wide of the post.

Harriers’ best sights of goal before the break came through Luke Spokes, who fired over after being teed up by Jason Adigun, while Seb Thompson also lashed over after controlling a long throw.

It was Oxford, however, who struck first as Jack Bearne broke clear and confidently finished beyond Christian Dibble eight minutes before half-time.

Alex Penny went close to levelling immediately with a header from a corner, but Harriers went into the break a goal down. Spokes continued to test goalkeeper Sam Lewis after the restart, twice calling him into action with driven efforts from distance, while David Davis also forced the Oxford stopper into a strong save just before the hour as the home pressure began to gather momentum.

With all five subs on and caution thrown to the wind, a breakthrough finally arrived – Penny came up with the key moment Harriers were searching for with eight minutes left. A corner dropped kindly to the defender and he struck it cleanly into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

The closing stages saw substitute Ryley Reynolds go close as Harriers pushed for a winner, but he fired over in added time as both sides were made to settle for a share of the points in a fairly frantic finish.

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