Fleet got their league campaign back on track after fighting back from a goal behind to take all three points at Marsh Lane. Goals from Charlie Sheringham, Sean Shields and Bradley Bubb overturned City’s early lead and moved the Fleet up to third place.
Daryl McMahon made two changes over Fleet’s previous league game, bringing in new signing Yado Mambo and Charlie Sheringham. But it was the home side who edged ahead, scoring after eight minutes courtesy of James Roberts who curled an effort into the top corner to stun the Fleet before they could get going.
The goal spurred the home side on and they fancied themselves for a second goal, forcing Nathan Ashmore into an excellent double save when Jefferson Louis caused problems and Johnny Giles pounced to strike one on target.
Fleet toiled for an equaliser and Dean Rance was close on 18 minutes, turning a Shields delivery against the crossbar. Rance was busy in the final third, just short of turning Sheringham’s low delivery into the net before Anthony Cook saw a shot charged down.
It was a decent response from the Fleet but the home side stepped it up again before half-time. Despite their renewed offensive strategy, City were made to pay for some lax defending six minutes before the break. A long throw-in reached Sheringham and he turned to fire a decent effort past the City keeper from 10 yards.
Oxford were eager in the opening exchanges of the second half and Ashmore had to be alert once more to deny Roberts. Fleet’s slow start to the second period saw Bradley Bubb and new signing Andy Drury introduced and that invigorated the visitors. Drury got into the swing of things with a couple of set pieces. Both sides pressed for the three points, with Cook seeing another effort diverted off target while Ashmore turned a Giles shot wide of the post.
But it was Fleet who nosed in front on 72 minutes. Sheringham turned a long ball into Shields’ path and he tucked it beneath goalkeeper Tyrell Belford. It got even better for the exuberant travelling fans four minutes later when a Drury corner reached former City striker Bubb and he smacked it home with great technique for his fourth goal in as many games to give Fleet a two-goal cushion.
The home side refused to lay down and former Wealdstone midfielder Scott Davies smacked a shot off the crossbar but nonetheless Fleet could have grabbed a fourth when Drury fired a shot wide and then Bubb was denied when Godfrey Poku issued a well-timed challenge inside the box.
EUFC: Ashmore, McCoy, Connors, Clark, Mambo, Cook, Powell (Drury 54), Rance, Shields (Lewis 84), Kedwell (Bubb 54), Sheringham.
Subs: Miles, Deering
OCFC: Belford, Poku, Grant, Ashby, Cundy, Henderson, Giles, Fleet, Roberts, Louis, Winters. Subs: Davies, Macauley, Ngathe, Ofosu
Attendance: 752
