Oxford City were this time unable to find a way past play-off rivals Boston United as they were held to a draw in their Vanarama Conference North at Marsh Lane on Saturday, writes Matthew Bruce.

When the sides met at Boston earlier this season, City put seven goals past their opponents But they drew a blank, hindering their prospects of overhauling Boston for the final play-off spot.

The visitors could have taken the lead in the opening ten minutes. Marc Newsham beat City goalkeeper Salva de la Cruz with a smart shot on the turn, but Alejandro-Adrian Santiago was on the line to clear.

Scott Garner thought he had put Boston in front after the City keeper had tipped Mark Jones’s shot into his path, and although he buried the rebound, it was ruled out for offside.

City enjoyed a spell of pressure shortly before the break, with Ander Del Alamo shooting wide after Jeremy Balmy and Tom Winters had opened up the Boston left flank.

Balmy was inches away from opening the scoring moments later, sliding in at the back post to meet a dangerous ball across the face of goal from Jose Lapoujade, but he couldn’t direct it goalwards.

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City continued to press forward throughout the second half and Marlon Jackson went agonisingly close, somehow shooting over the bar from five yards.

They seemed destined to score when Winters played a deadly ball across the face of goal. With Balmy, Jackson and Adi Yussuf all lurking, it just needed the slightest touch, but all three failed to capitalise.

Luke Coulson went closest to breaking the deadlock, leaping above the pack to meet a Winters corner only to see his powerful effort crash back off the bar.

Lee Henderson connected with another Winters corner, but his header drifted narrowly wide.

Mamadou Fofana had City’s last attempt of note, riding two challenges before slicing his shot wide of the mark.

City grew in desperation as the final whistle approached, but the visitors saw it out.

The result means that City were unable to reduce the five-point gap between them and the play-off positions ahead of today’s trip to Stockport County.

Oxford City: Salva, Coulson, Lapoujade, Del Alamo, Henderson, Santiago, Jackson, Fofana, Yussuf, Balmy (Benjamin 77), Winters (Barcelos 82). Subs not used: Wilson, Stonehouse, Scott.

Attendance: 493.