BRADLEY Stretton netted a stoppage time equaliser as Oxford City began life under Sam Cox with a draw in Vanarama National League North.
The Hoops, relegated from the National League last season, went 1-0 down at Marine after 14 minutes, but rescued a point at the death.
Marine took the lead when a corner was headed to the edge of the penalty box, where Harvey Gregson fired in a low drive which deflected past Kai McKenzie-Lyle in the Hoops goal.
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Stretton, who left Coventry City in the summer, flashed a shot wide just before the half hour mark, while Zac McEachran’s drive flew wide off the back of a Marine ankle.
Josh Parker floated a free kick wide, but the Hoops were unable to pull themselves level.
The closing stages of the second period saw the game open up at both ends of the pitch, with Marine substitute Jack Goodwin almost doubling the lead with a shot at the end of a driving run down the left-hand side.
Parker, who netted 14 goals in the National League last season, forced two good saves from Bolton Wanderers loanee Luke Hutchinson in the space of 30 seconds.
Just like the opener though, the game needed a corner to provide the leveller, as Stretton got the all-important touch to bring back a point for the Hoops.
