Weymouth 2 Oxford United 2

Oxford United should have won at the Wessex Stadium tonight, but in the end came away grateful for a point. The Terras were reduced to ten men after Santos Gaia was sent off in the 11th minute, but it was Weymouth who scored first through Stuart Beavon six minutes before half-time. A Matt Day 30-yard special restored parity three minutes later, but six minutes into the second half Beavon put the home side ahead again. With eight minutes to go some good work by Jamie Guy caused Danny Knowles to push the ball onto Anton Robinson and it cannoned into the goal for a second equaliser. United will be concerned that, as at Torquay United in the FA Cup second round ten days ago, they were unable to take advantage of their extra man, and in the second half they often looked second best.

Jim Smith made one change to the side that won at Mansfield last Thursday, with ROS Sam Deering getting a start in place of the injured Chris Carruthers. James Constable was well enough to play after his virus scare. With Eddie Hutchinson playing wide on the right, it came as no surprise that he was replaced by Yemi Odubade after 64 minutes. And with Phil Trainer having a bit of a 'mare, the only surprise was that he stayed on the field until 12 minutes from time before Lewis Haldane came on for him.

Tonight's referee was P Melin, last seen in these parts back in February 2006, when he officiated Oxford's 1-1 draw with Cheltenham in the Fourth Division. He showed yellow cards to Day and Adam Murray within a couple of minutes of each other at the end of the first half, and for good measure he booked Haldane in the last minute. Tonight's attendance was the lowest for an Oxford league since relegation to the Conference, and therefore the lowest since election to the Football League. In fact, according to our (admittedly incomplete) records, it was the lowest league attendance for an Oxford game since since 7 March 1959, when just 200 turned up for a Southern League game at Lovell's Athletic.

The point leaves United in 13th place, three points behind Weymouth who remain in tenth spot. There were some interesting results at the foot of the table, with Lewes climbing off the bottom, going above Northwich Victoria, with a 2-1 win at Salisbury City, who have dropped to 18th. Grays Athletic remain third from bottom despite drawing 0-0 at 11th-placed Stevenage Borough, but Woking have dropped into the relegation zone after drawing 1-1 with Rushden & Diamonds, who remain eighth. Mansfield Town have dropped to 20th place after losing 2-0 at Kidderminster Harriers, who have risen to third, with Justin Richards on the scoresheet again. Forest Green Rovers climbed two places to 18th after winning 1-0 at 12th-placed Ebbsfleet United.[@news]2422[/@news][@opponent]weymouth[/@opponent]

Burton Albion have gone five points clear at the top with a fine 3-1 win over sixth-placed Cambridge United, and Histon remain second despite only drawing 1-1 with York City, who dropped to 16th. Torquay United have dropped to fourth place after surprisingly getting hammered 4-2 at Eastbourne Borough, who climed three places to 15th. Ashley Barnes scored Eastbourne's opener, with Tim Sills grabbing a last-minute consolation for the Gulls. In tonight's other game, Barrow and Altrincham drew 2-2 at Holker Street.