Hawks fight back to beat FA Cup giant-killers Oxford City

Goals from centre-back Sam Magri - his second in as many matches and his third in five NLS games - and Tommy Wright ensured the hosts completed the turnaround triumph.

Striker Harvey Bradbury - son of former Hawks boss and Pompey forward Lee – had headed Oxford into an early lead but they would leave Westleigh Park with nothing.

The Hawks did it the hard way again, coming from behind to take all three points - just as they did in the 3-1 midweek home win against Dulwich Hamlet.

It lifted Paul Doswell's side up to eighth in the table, leaving them just a place off the play-off places, and averaging the two points a game the manager is always looking for.

It was the hosts who carved out the first opening with Wright's quick turn and thunderous 25-yard effort superbly kept out by former Hawks loanee Ben Dudzinski.

But Oxford started much the brighter and took the lead after 10 minutes. QPR loanee Aaron Drewe raced away down the right and his deflected cross was headed home by an unmarked Bradbury from close range.

The Hawks were struggling to find any sort of rhythm but did come close to levelling six minutes later – Josh Taylor's cross was met by Magri whose header was cleared off the line by Josh Ashby.

The centre half has now equalled last season’s three-goal haul after just a few weeks of 2020/21.

City remained on top for most of the half with Ross Worner called into action on a couple of occasions to ensure the hosts remained just a goal behind.

Wright was looking the most threatening for the Hawks and he was thwarted again seven minutes before the break. Joe Iaciofano slid his strike partner in behind before rounding Dudzinski, only for Ashby to keep his strike out.

But the leveller did arrive just as half-time approached as Oxford were unable to clear their lines from a corner with Magri side-footing home from inside the area.

The Hawks, having brought on Roarie Deacon for left wing-back George Mclennan at the interval, made the perfect start to the second half to turn things around on 49 minutes. Neat work from Iaciofano saw him get the better of ex-Pompey academy defender Joe Oastler before teeing up Wright to slot past Dudzinski from close ranger.

It was the former Sutton striker’s fifth goal of the season – taking him one ahead of Iaciofano in the Hawks’ league and cup goal charts.

Wright had started the midweek win against Dulwich on the bench, after being ill the day before, but was back in the starting XI for the absent Danny Kedwell.

The tartihosts were much improved after the restart and had a great opportunity to all but put the game past their opponents a minute after Lucas Sinclair was introduced on 67 minutes.

The substitute showed a great turn of pace before picking out Bedsente Gomis, but he failed to find the target.

Moussa Diarra then headed a good chance just wide as Oxford, fresh from the high of beating three divisions higher Northampton in the FA Cup the previous Monday, run out of legs in the second half.

It was Hawks’ seventh win in nine league and cup games of 2020/21 – and the one they drew, at home to Maidstone in the league, saw them concede twice in injury time.

Including the games at the end of 2019/20, Hawks have now won 11 out of their last 14 competitive games.

They have only lost to Dartford – once in the play-offs in July and once in the league last month.

Hawks: Worner, Read, Mclennan (Deacon, 45), Robson, Magri, Diarra, Gomis, Taylor, Clifford, Wright, Iaciofano (Sinclair).