DAVID Oldfield insisted Oxford City were not distracted by a turbulent 24 hours off the pitch as they were held 0-0 by struggling Welling United.

The Vanarama National League South draw came after the hosts suspended two members of the first-team squad on Friday for an alleged breach of Covid rules.

REPORT: Oxford City 0, Welling United 0

The pair were spotted without masks at a service station before Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Billericay Town.

But Oldfield felt the build-up did not have an impact as City moved into the play-off spots.

He said: “I don’t think it helps, but we absolutely take responsibility for it.

“The club has been very proactive in trying to keep us safe.

“We need to move forward, so it’s not an excuse and it didn’t affect us.”

The stalemate saw Welling drop to the foot of the table but they troubled City, with right back Aaron Drewe making two goal-line clearances.

The hosts could not create many notable chances and Oldfield felt a draw was fair.

“We were disappointingly average,” he said.

“I felt that we had so much more to give.

“We had a big effort on Wednesday and it looked like we were a little bit below par against a really good team.

“I don’t think we did quite enough to win it and maybe looking back it could turn out to be a really good point.”

City were indebted to goalkeeper Ben Dudzinski for his flying save from Joe Taylor in stoppage time

Oldfield said: “Ben’s save was sensational, but we’re a group and if it had gone in we’d have lost together.

“We’re fed up, because a lot of uncharacteristic things went on that the boys haven’t done before.”