Cambridge United 1 Oxford United 1

Oxford were held to a draw at the Abbey Stadium tonight by a committed Cambridge side. The home team came close to winning the match, but for some brilliance by Ryan Clarke and Jake Wright, although it took a good save by Simon Brown from Simon Clist in the last minute to retain parity.

Chris Wilder made two changes to the side that started against AFC Wimbledon one week ago. Damian Batt returned to right back, with Adam Chapman pushed up to right side of midfield and Sam Deering dropped to the bench. Up front, John Grant made his first start for the Yellows following a training injury to leading scorer James Constable. Clarke, substituted at half-time in the Wimbledon game, was fit to resume goalkeeping duties in place of Billy Turley. United's first substitution was 20 minutes into the second half, when Deering came on for Chapman. With 13 minutes to go Mark Creighton came on for Matt Green following Anthony Tonkin's dismissal, and ten minutes later Jack Midson took over up front from Grant.

The game started scrappily, with neither side able to impose themselves until Cambridge's opener after 18 minutes. Brian Saah was on hand to finish from Dave Partridge's header following a Simon Russell free-kick, conceded cheaply by Batt after some hesitancy by Rhys Day. United started to come into the game as they searched for an equaliser, and Brown saved well from a long-range Clist drive. It wasn't until three minutes before the break that Oxford scored the goal their play had deserved, as Green turned and shot home his 12th goal of the season after Chris Hargreaves had knocked on a cross from Wright.

Oxford started the second half with a slightly more threatening edge, but lacked the finish to their decent approach play. The first chance of the half fell to Danny Crow, whose long-range drive was excellently tipped over by a backpedalling Clarke. With 15 minutes to go Oxford's evening turned from looking for a winner to holding on for a point, as Tonkin, returning to Cambridge for the first time since his transfer to Oxford, fouled Crow as the Cambridge striker bore down on goal. Off went Tonkin, and Clarke again saved brilliantly from Crow's free-kick. In the last minute of normal time Saah almost found the winner for the home side as his header beat Clarke, but Wright got back brilliantly to clear the ball from under the crossbar. Then deep in stoppage time a low cross across the goal from Creighton was met by Clist almost on the goalline, but Brown somehow blocked the shot and the points were shared.

Given the circumstances, a point at Cambridge has to be considered a reasonable return, although United may well regret failing to capture all three. There are bound to be some downs as well as ups in the remaining few games, but draws away and victories at home should see United through.

Today's referee was Stephen Ross, taking charge of his first Oxford game. He wasn't helped by his assistants, who often made incorrect and even baffling decisions, and he was generally inconsistent in his application of justice. But we've had worse. He showed Tonkin a straight red card for his professional foul, but that was the only card received by an Oxford player. The attendance was 3,002 with 678 in the away end.

While a draw at the Abbey might be considered okay, it was thrown into sharp perspective by Stevenage Borough's 6-0 win at Eastbourne Borough, leaving Stevenage just a point behind United (we're still waiting for the Chester-related points deductions to come into effect) and now with a superior goal difference. They were helped on their way with a Mitchell Cole hat-trick in the last seven minutes. There were just 903 present to witness it. Cambridge remain 18th, one place above Eastbourne. Luton Town moved up to fourth after being held to a 0-0 draw at seventh-placed Mansfield Town.

Kidderminster Harriers are ninth after being held to a 2-2 draw at home by 17th-placed Ebbsfleet United, while Crawley Town are 10th after they draw 2-2 at Salisbury City. Tamworth beat fourth-bottom Gateshead 1-0.

Oxford have another blank Saturday at the weekend, their next Conference match being at home to Hayes & Yeading United in one week. However, the Us are in action tomorrow night in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final against Oxford City at Court Place Farm. [@news]2670[/@news][@opponent]cambridge united[/@opponent]