Oxford United 1 Manchester United Reserves 2

It's just as well that in pre-season performances are more important than results, because United put in an excellent performance tonight against a young Manchester United reserves side, but were denied the result they deserved by some slack defending right at the death. There was drama at the end of the first half as well, with the visitors taking the lead through a Magnus Eikram free-kick, only for James Constable to equalise a minute later.

Chris Wilder selected what would appear to be his favoured starting line-up, with just Jake Wright absent through injury, replaced by new signing Harry Worley (or possibly replaced by Mark Creighton, depending on Wilder's preferred defensive line-up). Significantly the starting XI all played almost the whole game, with Matt Green and Jack Midson replaced by Alfie Potter and Sam Deering with five minutes remaining, and Constable coming off for Aaron Woodley in the final minute.

The game started with the Red Devils gaining a glorious opportunity to take an early lead, as Creighton made a very late tackle on James Chester to concede a blatant penalty, although the Beast could arguably blame the rain-slickened surface for his slidey follow-through. However, Eikrem's penalty was well saved by Ryan Clarke, and the remainder of the first half, while not devoid of incident, was an evenly fought contest. Both sides came close to grabbing the lead, with the visitors looking fast and dangerous on the break and United looking to unlock the Reds with incisive passing, notably from new midfielders Asa Hall and Simon Heslop. There was a comedy moment when a Creighton back-pass was almost too soft to reach Clarke and, with Josh King ready to pounce, the United 'keeper dived to grab the ball, but with no free-kick forthcoming despite everyone but the referee waiting for the award.

The visitors did grab the lead just two minutes before the break after another Creighton challenge was penalised just outside the area, in the dead centre of the arc. Like the free-kick that United conceded against Leicester City on Saturday, Clarke appeared to stand too far over, this time to his right, and he was therefore unable to stop Eikram's shot, despite getting a hand to it, after the wall had jumped over the low-struck ball. United came straight back into the game to silence the travelling hordes from the Home Counties. Heslop, Green, and Hall exchanged passes before Hall's low cross was met by Constable to smash the ball home.

Oxford started the second half on fire, and for long periods they had the visitors pegged back in their own half. Constable should have grabbed his second after bursting through, but the ball got stuck under his feet and after swerving half-way round the penalty area his effort was eventually cleared. Worley embarked on a storming run from defence and played a one-two with Constable but couldn't quite beat the covering defender to the ball. Heslop smashed a 30-yard shot just over the bar. A delightful ball from Constable set Green through with just Sam Johnstone to beat, but his flick past the goalie came back off the foot of the post. Green charged into the penalty area and was sandwiched out of possession, with everyone in the ground anticipating the referee's award of a penalty that never came. And Hall tried his luck with a long-range angled shot that fizzed past the far post.

All these chances were of no account though as, in the final minute, a long free-kick from the Manchester left was met at the far post on the volley by Nicky Ajose to earn the visitors an undeserved victory. The lesson to United is clear; whatever the level of the opposition they must take their chances and keep up their concentration levels. Next up it's the annual encounter at Oxford City on Friday, with Wilder saying that every player in the squad will get 45 minutes at Court Place Farm.