Dwaine Strong, given an 11th hour reprieve from suspension to play in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final, hit the goal which set Oxford City on the way to victory at the Manor Ground last night, writes Russell Smith.

Strong, who may well have wished he had been banned after missing two sitters in the first seven minutes, broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute when he fired Richard Peirson's low centre back across Ian Moores into the far corner.

And City wrapped up their fourth success in the competition in five years amidst great controversy in the 83rd minute.

Stewart McCleary looked well offside when he raced on to a through ball, but the linesman's flag stayed down and the City substitute coolly slotted his shot past Moores. In contrast to many recent Senior Cup finals, it was an open and entertaining game, with both sides having numerous chances.

After Strong's brace of early misses, Mark West looked certain to score for Thame, but City keeper Alan Foster blocked his header first and then his follow-up shot before watching the ball spin agonisingly along the goalline where Michael Thorp cleared.

Andy Williams then cleared Danny Wise's shot off the line at the other end before West headed another great chance over from six yards.

Foster did well to deny both Jefferson Louis and Greg Williams either side of the break. And after Strong had fired City ahead, Andy Smith cleared off the line from Thame's Dave Tregurtha, who then headed over from close range after Mark Jones's corner came off the City bar.

But McCleary's late strike killed off any hopes Thame had of a comeback.