United were twice ahead at Grays[@opponent]Grays Athletic[/@opponent] this afternoon, but had to settle for a point after conceding a late equaliser. Oxford took the lead as early as the fourth minute, when leading scorer Rob Duffy latched onto a long cross from Barry Quinn, and turned smartly to smash the ball past Ashley Bayes. A minute later Eddie Anaclet burst into the area, but his cross was too close to the covering defenders and it was cleared. That was about it for meaningful attacks in the first half, and Oxford allowed Grays to get back into the match, although they were mainly restricted to long shots. Quinn had to be alert twice near the end of the half with covering tackles, but at the break it was looking good for the Yellows.[@news]2050[/@news]

Ten minutes into the second half Duffy headed just wide from a cross by Quinn, but were ruing their luck when Grays equalised just after the hour mark. A corner wasn't cleared properly, and when Glen Poole shot from 20 yards, Duffy flicked his foot out but instead of clearing it he only succeeded in deflecting it, and the ball looped over Turley's head and into the net. With 17 minutes to go, Yemi Odubade latched onto an excellent through-ball from Carl Pettefer and took the ball around Bayes, who brought the flying forward down. Up stepped Duffy to convert his eighth penalty of the season to restore United's lead. With ten minutes to go Danny Rose was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul, when it looked like he'd won the ball. The free kick was whipped in and Turley punched the ball clear, when arguably he could have caught it as he was unchallenged. The ball fell to Tom Williamson, 30 yards out, and his shot flew into the net for a spectacular, and deserved, equaliser.

Jim Smith gave a debut to Latvian striker Kris Grebis, in place of Marvin Robinson. He generally linked up well with Duffy, and defended well from the front, but his lack of match fitness gradually wore him down. Phil Gilchrist returned to the defence and, with United returning to their usual 3-5-2 formation, it was Yemi Odubade who made way. Yemi did get his chance, coming on for Grebis just four minutes before he won United's penalty. Meanwhile, six minutes earlier, Matt Day replaced an injured Anaclet. Turley spent much of the second half limping, but with only Gareth Tucker on the bench, Oxford's first-choice keeper stayed on the pitch.

Today's referee was Stuart Attwell, taking charge of Oxford for the first time. He had a half decent game, too, considering the officials that we've become used to. He booked Grebis for consistent fouling, but only after he'd given the Latvian a final warning. The attendance was just 1,759, of whom 650 were in the away end. Despite the lowly crowd this was still, as ever, Grays' best gate of the season. A match report may be published tomorrow, or not.

The dropping of two points was doubly disappointing for Oxford, as Conference leaders Dagenham & Redbridge were also held to a draw, 1-1 at Morecambe, who are now sixth. York City remain third, despite losing 2-1 at tenth-placed Kidderminster, while fourth-placed Gravesend & Northfleet drew level on points with the Minstermen after their excellent 3-1 win at Exeter City, who are now ninth. Burton Albion are also on 47 points, five adrift of Oxford, after they beat third-bottom St Albans 1-0.

Tamworth remain bottom of the table after they were beaten 2-0 at 19th-placed Forest Green Rovers, and Southport are still just above them after they went down 2-1 at Crawley, who are up to 16th. Cambridge United occupy the final relegation spot after they were thrashed 4-1 at Stevenage Borough, who are up to eighth. Rushden & Diamonds are one place above Cambridge thanks to their 2-1 win over Stafford Rangers, with former Rage On sponsee Jamie Cook scoring the Diamond's first goal. United's next opponents, on Tuesday night, are Woking. They beat Altrincham 2-0 to move into 12th place. In the day's other Conference game, Aldershot won 3-1 at Northwich Victoria.