MARK Jones hailed his Oxford City players after they came from behind to win a dramatic Oxfordshire Senior Cup final.

Reece Fleet’s 90th-minute winner earned a 4-3 win over a spirited Banbury United in a thrilling tie at Court Place Farm.

City looked to be on the verge of a surprise defeat, but two goals in the last seven minutes saw the Vanarama National League South side defend their county crown.

Banbury captain Ricky Johnson’s eighth-minute goal proved the difference at half-time.

City equalised through Zac McEachran on 46 minutes, but the Puritans went 3-1 ahead through Amer Awadh and Greg Kaziboni’s magnificent lob.

However, City crucially reduced the deficit within a minute through Eddie Odhiambo’s own goal and they were rewarded for their endeavours late on.

Kabongo Tshimanga levelled from the penalty spot on 83 minutes, before Fleet curled home with extra-time looming.

Boss Jones was delighted to retain the trophy.

He said: “Fair play to Banbury, they worked very hard and made it a very difficult game for us.

“We showed a good reaction to come back and get to 3-2 very quickly and that kept us in the game.

“If we had gone ten to 15 minutes still with the two-goal scoreline it might have been a bit more difficult.

“But we got the second goal pretty quickly and we put pressure on them, got the penalty and then a good finish from Reece Fleet.

“We would have liked it to have been a bit more comfortable, but we knew it was never going to be like that.

“It feels good, because we should be challenging for this trophy.

“We’ve retained the cup and deservedly so in the end, so well done to the boys – they kept going.”

Banbury, who lost Johnson to injury in the process of firing his side into the lead, looked to be on the verge of pulling off a shock win.

But manager Mike Ford, while proud of his side’s efforts, was unhappy with the manner of City’s first two strikes.

He said: “It’s just a little bit disappointing that, having gone into a 3-1 lead, we conceded their second goal within 30 seconds – it’s just ridiculous.

“And we conceded their first within the first minute of the second half.

“They are really poor times to give goals away and any team is going to struggle when you do that.”