Oxford City 1

Harrogate Tn 1

Oxford City’s chances of finishing in the Vanarama Conference North play-off places grew ever more slender as they were held to a draw at home to Harrogate Town.

Tom Winters put City in front early in the second half on Saturday, but they were pegged back by a James Walshaw strike.

It means, with two games left, they remain four points adrift of Guiseley in the final play-off place with the Yorkshire club having a game in hand.

Top-scorer Adi Yussuf had several opportunities to put City ahead in the first half.

He sliced wide after just two minutes, and then fired across the face of goal from close range in the 18th minute following a dangerous centre by Marlon Jackson.

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Harrogate also looked dangerous when they ventured forward, but their best opening came as a result of an error from City defender Lee Henderson.

His misplaced pass allowed James Cadman to get the wrong side of the defence.

But when he attempted to exchange passes with the lively Walshaw it allowed Henderson to recover and divert it wide before Cadman could pull the trigger.

Two minutes later, Yussuf set Ander Del Alamo away with a fantastic through ball only for the Spaniard to fire horribly wide.

Yussuf stung goalkeeper Peter Crook’s hands with a sharp effort on the turn shortly before the break, and, at the other end, Walshaw nodded on for Jack Emmett to strike across goal.

The breakthrough finally came five minutes into the second half when Jackson pulled the ball back from the right-hand side, and Jeremy Balmy nudged it into the path of Winters, who hooked it in.

City’s lead was short-lived as eight minutes later a poor pass from Balmy was intercepted by Jack Emmett, who played in Walshaw to fire home the equaliser.

City’s frustration mounted as they struggled to find a second, with head coach Enrique Guillen sent to the stands following an exchange with referee Ian Dudley.

Yussuf twice broke free in the final stages, but was unable to make it count, first colliding with Crook as he forced his way through and then seeing his low shot saved minutes later.

Oxford City: Salva, Coulson, Lapoujade, Del Alamo (Wilson 72), Henderson, Santiago, Jackson, Fofana, Yussuf, Balmy (Benjamin 90), Winters. Subs not used: Scott, Barcelos, Stonehouse.

Referee: I Dudley.

Attendance: 302.