Oxford City played out a second successive 1-1 home draw as Josh Ashby’s penalty saw them claim a point against Eastbourne Borough.
The midfielder struck ten minutes into the second half at Court Place Farm, but David Oldfield’s side were forced to finish the game with ten men after captain Joe Oastler was sent off.
Eastbourne started the Vanarama National League South clash brightest and forced Luiz Fernandez into two blocks within two minutes.
The City defender was unfortunate for the afternoon’s opening goal, as Charley Kendall’s 12th-minute shot took a wicked deflection and left goalkeeper Ben Dudzinski stranded.
Both sides then went close from free-kicks, with Ashby firing just past the post from 25 yards.
Zac McEachran thought he had equalised just before the break, but the linesman ruled the effort out for offside.
City improved in the second half and found themselves level ten minutes after the restart.
Ashby scored from the spot but the attentions of a visiting player meant he had to retake, with his second effort dispatched into the corner.
City were in the ascendancy and had chances to win it, James Roberts firing a
left-footed volley over the bar and Elliot Benyon sending a shot past the post from outside the box.
City lost Oastler for the final ten minutes after he picked up his second yellow card, which could see the skipper miss Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup second round trip to Shrewsbury Town.
Oxford City: Dudzinski, Drewe, Hall (Owusu 79), Ashby, Oastler, Roberts, Fleet, McEachran, Bradbury (Benyon HT), Coyle (Gubbins HT), Fernandez.
Unused: Martinez, Bancroft.
Eastbourne Borough: Ravizzoli, Vaughan, Woolard-Innocent, Ferry, Dickenson, James, Cox (Rollison 60), Hammond, Luer (Lambert 75), Walker, Kendall.
Unused: Blackmore, Folarin, Glover.
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