Oxford City’s four-match losing streak in Vanarama Conference North ended on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home to Stalybridge Celtic at Marsh Lane.

But the hosts could have snatched it late on when substitute Adi Yussuf bore down on goal, only to blast his shot over the bar.

So it was City who were left the more frustrated not to have beaten their visitors, who were on a run of seven straight defeats in all competitions.

Javier Rodriguez fired City into an early lead, but Liam Dickinson’s penalty restored parity and despite their efforts, the home side were unable to find a winner.

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Both sides struggled to cope with a slippery pitch following a torrential downpour.

But that didn’t stop City from taking an 11th-minute lead.

Rodriguez exchanged passes with Marlon Jackson to beautifully open up the Stalybridge defence, before striking low into the bottom corner of the net past Lewis King in the visitors’ goal.

City looked firmly in control at this point, with Ander Del Alamo coming close to doubling the advantage when he shot narrowly wide from Tom Winters’s cut-back.

And Darren Pond was just inches away from heading in Kynan Isaac’s volley.

The visitors were granted a route back into the match just before the half-hour mark when goalkeeper Mark Scott needlessly brought down Ben McKenna in the area.

Dickinson coolly slotted home from the spot to bring the sides level.

The equaliser seemed to disrupt City’s rhythm and, with conditions worsening in the second half, the match became a scrappy midfield battle.

Scott was called upon to keep out efforts from Paul Ennis and Dickinson in quick succession just after an hour, but was otherwise little more than a spectator.

And despite showing plenty of attacking intent, City were unable to create many clear openings.

However, when they did, they could not take advantage.

Yussuf had a chance to win it on 85 minutes when the former Lincoln striker got the wrong side of the defence, only to sliced his shot high and wide with only King to beat.

Oxford City: Scott, Henderson, Stonehouse, Del Alamo, Lapoujade, Santiago, Isaac (Yussuf 61), Pond, Jackson (Wilson 83), Rodriguez, Winters (Barcelos 71). Subs not used: Brown, Mullings.

Referee: A Quelch.

Attendance: 201.

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