Late goals from substitute Greg Pearson and Declan Benjamin sealed a thrilling 2-2 comeback for Oxford City against Vanarama Conference high-fliers Woking at Marsh Lane on Saturday, writes Matthew Bruce.

The visitors looked comfortable going into the closing stages of the FA Trophy second-round tie after goals from Kevin Betsy and John Goddard had given them a 2-0 lead.

But Pearson got City back into the game from the penalty spot and minutes later Benjamin headed the equaliser to force a replay at Woking tomorrow night.

City struggled to play their usual passing game on a boggy pitch, but their attempts to play a more direct style met with little success.

  •  Latest Sport news

Instead it was the visitors who deservedly opened the scoring as Betsy capitalised on a poor goal kick from keeper Salva de la Cruz, weaving through several challenges before firing in.

City continued to labour away, but saw little success in the opening 30 minutes.

However, they were able to work a few openings just before the break, with a long-range Tom Winters shot drawing a save from Woking’s former Oxford United goalkeeper Jake Cole.

Cole denied Adi Yussuf from close range moments later as City opened the visitors up.

But Woking seized firm control nine minutes after the break, doubling the lead when substitute Goddard headed in Betsy’s cross.

They should have extended the advantage even further shortly after when Goddard broke away, but Jack Marriott was unable to turn home his pass at the back post.

City had come under intense pressure in the second half and should have gone further behind, but they were handed a lifeline.

The introduction of Pearson for injured Mamadou Fofana proved the turning point, with the substitute first going down in the penalty area under a clumsy challenge from Adam Newton and then firing City back into the match from the spot.

The goal came completely against the run of play, but sparked an incredible transformation and within minutes they were level.

City’s 19-goal top scorer Yussuf found himself in space on the left before his superb cross allowed the lurking Benjamin to head in at the far post.

Openings came thick and fast in the final minutes and a winning goal appeared inevitable, but it never came.

Woking should have won it at the death when Betsy’s cross found substitute Giuseppe Sole, but his effort was blocked by Benjamin as City held on for tomorrow’s replay.

Oxford City: Salva, Benjamin, Lapoujade, Del Alamo, Fofana (Pearson 63), Santiago, Barcelos, Pond, Yussuf, Wilson (Murombedzi 58), Winters. Subs not used: Jackson, Afolabi, Mullings.

Referee: W Barrett.

Attendance: 652.