OxfordCity were indebted to new keeper Mark Ingram for getting a point in a goalless draw against Stalybridge Celtic in an even Blue Square Bdet North encounter at Court Place Farm on Saturday, writes Jack Johnson.

Ingram, on loan from Wycombe, made his debut in goal and rescued City, making a fantastic save to deny Corey Gregory in the 86th minute.

As a result City remained fourth in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Chester.

Ingram, who replaced the injured Warren Carter in goal, was not the only change from City’s 2-1 defeat at Vauxhall Motors last week Declan Benjamin and Steve Basham returned to the starting 11 while Nick Stanley was named as a substitute for the first time this season since recovering from a broken ankle.

Benjamin could have given City the lead in the fifth minute as he jinked inside Jonny Lindsay only to see his shot cleared off the line by Prince Hayward.

That was as close as City came to scoring in the first half as they were restricted to long- range efforts from Jamie Cook and Darren Pond.

The second half was more of the same with the windy conditions and playing surface not making it easy for either side.

City managed to carve Stalybridge open just after the break as Basham released Pond, who was fouled by Lindsay.

But Paul Stonehouse’s free-kick was saved comfortably by Alex Cairns.

Stalybridge could have opened the scoring on 64 minutes, but Jamie Mullan scuffed his effort.

As the game began to stretch, substitutes Nabil Sharif and Stanley combined in the 80th minute, but the former fired straight at Cairns. Stalybridge’s substituteVinny Mukendi when he came oncaused problems, but he failed to hit the target.

With four minutes remaining, Gregory connected well with Callum Warburton’s free-kick.

But Ingram pushed the ball over the bar, denying Stalybridge their fourth away victory of the season and earning City a hard-fought point.

Oxford City: Ingram, Mills (Ballard 77), Learoyd, Willmott, Stonehouse, Benjamin, Malone, Pond, Walcott (Sharif 54), Basham (Stanley 63), Cook. Subs not used: Gunn, Skendi.

Attendance: 245.