Darren Pond struck the winning penalty as Oxford City saw off county rivals Didcot Town 5-4 on penalties to reach the Division 1 South & West play-off final in a thriller at Loop Meadow Stadium last night.

With the game poised at 2-2 after extra-time, the former Banbury midfielder held his nerve to put away their fifth spot-kick in the shoot-out after Matt Bicknell saw Steve Smith save Didcot's third penalty.

It was Pond who had given City a fourth-minute lead, volleying home from 20 yards after Yashwa Romeo had chested a throw into his path.

Didcot's best chance came on the half-hour, but Smith kept out Andy Parrott's header after he was picked out by Richard Witt.

After the break, Didcot piled on the pressure, with Jack King beating Smith, only for Andy Gunn to make a superb goalline clearance.

Witt broke through on goal, but slipped on the greasy surface as he prepared to shoot.

At the other end, Jamie Heapy made a brilliant clearance from under his own bar after keeper Michael Watkins flapped at a cross.

But it should have been 2-0 on 73 minutes, Romeo blazing horribly over after a brilliant through ball from midfielder Liam Malone.

And they were rueing that miss six minutes from time when Didcot substitute Liam Hope fired home after Smith had kept out Paul Powell's piledriver.

Smith then made two excellent saves from King as Didcot went for the winner.

Five minutes into extra time, Alex Stewart restored City's lead when he headed home a cross from fellow substitute Jon Gardner.

But Didcot were level when King cracked home a stunning shot from 18 yards.

Only last-ditch tackles from Andy Williams and Richard Peirson prevented City substitute Errol Telemaque from adding to their tally, before Smith denied Hope with a full-length save.

City proved deadly from the spot and after Smith kept out Bicknell, Pond lashed home the winner to start the celebrations.

f=Helvetica s=5.7Didcot Tn: Watkins, Heapy, Bicknell, Williams, Peirson, Parrott, Witt (Hope 79), King, Jack, Vine (Odhiambo 106), Powell (Rusher 119), Subs not used: Thomas, Davis.

Oxford City: Smith, Saulsbury, Woodruffe, Gunn, Pond, Avery, Lyon, Malone, Romeo (Telemaque 106), Redknap (Stewart 69), Bell (Gardner 81). Subs not used: Allaway, Falconbridge.

Attendance: 402.

Last night's other semi-final between Fleet and Uxbridge was postponed for a second time due waterlogging.