Oxford City  0
 

Worcester City  0

Oxford City’s Skrill North basement battle against Worcester City ended in a goalless stalemate at Marsh Lane on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

Neither side were able to find a way through in what was a scrappy, physical encounter, though the game was not without chances.

Steve Basham should have given City an early lead when a Tom Winters cross found him unmarked in the box, but he was unable to get his shot on target.

Soon after, Lee Henderson was unlucky to see his header drift just over the bar from a corner during a spell of City pressure.

Chris Palmer went close with a free-kick which evaded everyone in the area, but bounced just wide of the far post.

City had had the better of the early exchanges, but failed to break the deadlock while they were on top and the remainder of the half was a forgettable affair with few chances for either side.

After the break it was the visitors who looked the more likely side to score, and Danny Glover twice went close in the opening minutes of the half.

His first attempt was denied by the outstretched hand of City keeper Victor Francoz, and then he shot just wide after Tom Thorley nodded down a cross from former Oxford United midfielder Phil Trainer.

But after weathering a brief spell of pressure City looked comfortable and could have snatched a winner.

Winters’s powerful strike from a free-kick looked destined for the net, but Worcester goalkeeper Jose Veiga pulled off a fantastic save to keep it out.

Declan Benjamin also tried his luck from distance, but his effort was easily held by Veiga in the last significant action of the game as both sides settled for a point.

Oxford City: Francoz, Benjamin, Stonehouse, Malone, Henderson, Willmott, McNish, Palmer (Ballards 56), Basham (Robinson 59), Cook (Symons 70), Winters. Subs not used: Learoyd, Williams.

Referee: L Venables.

Attendance: 291.