Rugby Tn 1 (Musgrove pen 32)

Oxford City 1 (Pond 37)

Darren Pond was the hero and villain as Oxford City extended their unbeaten run with a draw at Rugby in the Premier Division on Saturday.

Pond was harshly adjudged to have fouled Matthew Gearing in the 32nd minute to give away a peanlty, but he quickly made amends as he fired home the equaliser in an entertaining game.

Early on, Mark Bell put a good cross in for Andy Gunn, who headed over, then Bell forced Rugby keeper Andrew Stevens into a smart save.

City lost Andy Ballard with a knee injury, but James Clarke, making his debut after joining from Oxford United, got in an excellent cross to Pond, who brought a fine save from Stevens.

At the other end, City keeper Ryan Harrison saved well to deny Gearing, before Pond gave away a penalty.

Although Harrison saved Musgrove’s initial kick, the ball ran to the same player to fire home the rebound.

City thought they had levelled moments later when Mark Lambert’s header appeared to be going in, only to be denied by defender Tom Breward, who cleared the ball behind.

From the corner, City equalised as Pond redeemed himself by firing through a crowded area.

In the second half, the home side had the edge, hitting the woodwork and having another effort cleared.

Pond went close again from a Lambert cross, but City had to settle for a draw.

Oxford City: Harrison, Clarke, Ballard (Davis 9), Gunn, Pond, Savage, Lambert, Malone (Faulkner 64), Fisher, Baird, Bell (Faulconbridge 55). Subs not used: R Brooks, Williams.

Attendance: 272.