A HEADER by Jimmy Deabill ten minutes from time gave Didcot Town a 1-1 draw at home to National League South visitors Oxford City in their pre-season friendly at the Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday.

Despite the two league difference between the sides, the match was level throughout with neither able to take control.

The Railwaymen, who play in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West, nearly took an early lead when Deabill latched onto a ball by Jack Self, but his powerful strike was well-saved by City keeper Craig Hill.

Bradley Bubb played in Carlos Piffare Farnet to give City a good opportunity to take the lead, but his shot was saved by Leigh Bedwell to keep the score goalless at half-time.

City made a number of changes including bringing on Darren Pond, who broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half.

Pond managed to beat Andy Ballard to the ball to volley home a difficult chance from Jon Arzumondi’s cross.

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Both sides were unable to create chances until Didcot brought on youth team players Kieran Collins and Jack Powell.

Shortly after coming on, Powell delivered a dangerous cross and Deabill beat Jose Lapoutade to the ball to head home the equaliser.

Didcot almost snatched the victory late on when a long ball from Bedwell fell to the path of Conor McDonagh whose initial effort was saved by Hill and his second attempt was cleared off the line by Lapoutade.

Near the end, City’s Declan Benjamin was stretchered off with a leg injury.

Didcot Town squad: Bedwell, Elkins, Organ, Ballard, Learoyd, Martin, DuttonBlack, Self, Deabill, McDonagh, Williams, Baines, Janes, Powell, Collins.

Oxford City squad: Hill, Coulson, Lapoutade, Del Alamo, Santiago, Arzumondi, Piffare Farnet, Fleet, Bubb, Lafuente, Lawrence, Stonehouse, Simpson, Benjamin, Pond, Barcelos, Isaac.