Oxford City staged a superb rescue act with two goals from substitutes in the last eight minutes to earn a point from their Blue Square Bet North visit to Stalybridge last night.

Mike Ford’s changed side seemed to be heading for defeat when they trailed 2-0 after 84 minutes.

But then leading scorer Felipe Barcelos, on as a half-time substitute, gave City hope when planting Mark Bell’s cross into the net.

Then, in the second minute of injury time, Bell snatched the equaliser when firing home after Jamie Cook’s shot had been blocked.

It secured City’s 15th draw of the campaign and lifted them to tenth in the table with just one game to go.

In the first half, Lewis Joyce missed two good chance for the visitors before Stalybridge struck with two quick goals.

They took the lead in the 23rd minute when Mark Lees headed home from Adam Pepper’s corner.

Pepper, himself, made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute with a superb shot into the top corner of the net corner from 25 yards.

For much of the second half, City were unable to create chances to get back into the game, but then it all came right in the last eight minutes.

Oxford City: Townsend, Benjamin, Barney, (Bell ht), Malone, Learoyd, Gunn, McEa-chran, McNish, Basham (Cook 67), Joyce (Barcelos ht), Stoneouse. Subs not used: Willmott, Leiva.

Attendance: 204.