OXFORD City led three times away to struggling Concord Rangers, but had to settle for a point as they were held to a 3-3 draw, writes MATTHEW BRUCE

Mike Fondop, Matt Peake-Pijnen and Stephane Ngamvoulou were on target for City.

But a Lyle Della-Verde effort and two penalties from Steve Cawley earned the home side a share of the points.

It took 25 turgid minutes before City edged in front.

Collecting the ball on the edge of the area after Concord had failed to clear a corner, Reece Fleet teed up Fondop to fire into the roof of the net.

That also appeared to wake up the home side, who had the ball in the net less than a minute later when James White slotted home through the legs of goalkeeper Tyrell Belford.

His celebrations were cut short by the offside flag, but the hosts would have to wait only three minutes to level.

The City backline was caught cold as Concord broke quickly up the right, leaving Della-Verde free to tap in.

It was City, who again started the brighter in the opening exchanges of the second half, with Jefferson Louis firing across the face of goal.

Peake-Pijnen, making his first senior start, made no mistake when he found himself in the same position just a moment later, bending a close-range effort beyond the grasp of the keeper to put City 2-1 up.

Six minutes later, the visitors were hauled back again when Jordan Chiedozie was tripped by Fleet, with Cawley burying the spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Ngamvoulou again restored City’s advantage, robbing ex-Oxford United apprentice Marvin Ekpiteta and slotting into the bottom corner.

The home side pressed for a third equaliser and came close when Rob Girdlestone beat Belford to a loose ball, playing it just beyond the reach of Chiedozie.

But they would get their leveller ten minutes from time with another helping hand from referee Aji Ajibola.

Chiedozie took another tumble in the area under a challenge from Jean Niate, Ajibola pointed to the spot for a second time and again Cawley coolly fired home the penalty to deny City victory.

Oxford City: Belford, Poku, Grant, Ashby, Henderson, Niate, Ngamvoulou (Davies 78), Fleet, Fondop, Louis (MacAuley 70), Peake-Pijnen (Winters 70). Sub not used: Ngathe.

Attendance: 220.

VANARAMA NATIONAL

LEAGUE SOUTH

P W D L F A Pts

Maidenhead Utd 24 17 5 2 53 17 56

Ebbsfleet Utd 24 14 6 4 48 22 48

Poole Tn 25 13 7 5 40 25 46

Chelmsford C 24 12 9 3 52 29 45

St Albans City 25 13 6 6 53 34 45

Dartford 23 13 5 5 37 23 44

Hampton 25 12 6 7 52 35 42

Hungerford Tn 25 11 8 6 43 34 41

Bath City 25 9 7 9 37 31 34

H Hempstead Tn 25 9 7 9 46 59 34

East Thurrock 24 7 12 5 43 31 33

Wealdstone 24 9 5 10 34 39 32

Eastbourne Boro 23 8 7 8 37 34 31

Oxford City 26 9 4 13 35 48 31

Truro City 25 7 6 12 33 57 27

Weston-s-Mare 24 7 4 13 30 43 25

Welling Utd 24 7 3 14 36 35 24

Gosport Bor 24 6 6 12 28 58 24

Concord Rgrs 25 5 8 12 35 46 23

Whitehawk 22 6 4 12 28 36 22

Bishops Stortford 25 5 2 18 18 55 17

Margate 25 5 1 19 17 54 16