Town’s marathon trip to Oxford yielded another point in their play off quest.
The match, which was in some doubt early on Saturday morning, was played on a quagmire of a pitch.
Within two minutes of the start,Chib Chilaka’s shot from Colin Larkin’s cross, produced a brilliant one handed save from Nick Townsend in the City goal.
City retaliated instantly and Nick Stanley was inches high with a drive from 25yards.
Oxford, prompted by several long throws by skipper, Andy Ballard,subjected Town to an aerial assault which was well contained by the defence, in which Alan White and Shane Killock were outstanding.
Indeed, it was Town who shaded the first half with both Lee Elam and Paul Beesley being denied
by balls that stuck in the mud enabling Townsend to make blocks.
Adam Nowakowski went close with a header and Dave Merris supplied several wicked centres across the City area.
It took Oxford over 40 minutes to gain their first corner, which was easily headed away by Adam Bolder.
The home goal survived a tremendous scramble in the opening minute of the second half, with Bolder,Chilaka and Elam all having shots blocked.
The physically strong City side hit back when Liam Malone and Darren Pond
created an opening for Stanley, but Craig MacGillivray easily dealt with his shot.
Town finished the stronger, with Bolder picking out sub Dan Clayton, but his searching cross was sliced wide by Danny Forrest.
Deep into stoppage time a 60 yard run by Dwayne Samuels presented Forrest with a chance to win the game, but his rising drive cleared the bar.
Final score – Oxford City 0 v Harrogate Town 0
Town
1 MacGillivray, 2 Samuels, 3 Merris,4 Nowakowski, 5 White (c) 6 Killock, 7 Bolder,
8 Beesley (Forrest 57), 9 Chilaka (Bolland 70), 10 Larkin, 11 Elam (Clayton 60).
Unused subs 12 Allan, 16 Bloomer. Bookings nil
