Non-League City matched Division 2 Wycombe Wanderers for the better part of 300 minutes of football.

And more than 4,000 fans were at the Manor last night, nearly 1,000 more than were at Adams Park a week ago, to cheer on Paul Lee's battlers.

In the end, it was only a single goal from Steve Brown that separated the two sides.

But City manager Lee is already looking towards next season.

"We should start in the third or fourth qualifying round then, and that gives us a great chance to be in round one again," he said.

City were unable to raise their game to such a magnificent level for a third time last night, and Lee said:

"Tonight, they put us under a lot pressure. I thought Alan Foster was magnificent in our goal and we grew in confidence in the second half."

City won a late corner, and that's how Richard Peirson equalised in the first match.

There was to be no repeat dream ending though, but Lee admitted: "I though 'here we go again' when we got that corner.

"But I couldn't ask for any more from the players. They were magnificent and the crowd were magni- ficent."

Oxford had a great chance to go ahead in the first half through speedy striker Jason Davy, who was clean through on goal, after a sublime pass from Terry Sweeney, but lost control.

Davy said: "I changed my mind about three times and then missed it completely."

"It was hard for us to break down a team who had nine men behind the ball. But the FA Cup is all about romance and they were outstanding."

Former City striker Jermaine McSporran, now at Wycombe, added to this accolade. His words had come back to haunt him when he predicted after the first round draw that Wycombe would have it sewn up by half-time.

Three games later and he was more magnanimous, saying: "I thought they were marvellous and we shook hands afterwards.

"They made us play them three times and that's tremendous."

On top of that, City collect £4,000 from the FA for being the team from the lowest division to get furthest. They split £8,000 with fellow Ryman Division 1 outfit Whyteleafe

City chairman Mick Woodley, who paid tribute to the Oxford public for their support, put the figure at around £38,000, but believed there was no need to spend any of it on bringing in new talent.

He said: "First and foremost, I am proud of the lads who went out and faced a league side three times.

"But I thought we gave them too much respect this time.

"I don't think we need any more players here. We have already got the best in the county."