Kettering Town 1 Oxford United 1

Despite going a goal down again against Kettering tonight, United preserved their unbeaten start to the season with a fine equaliser from Kevin Sandwith in the 20th minute. The home side took the lead in the 12th minute through a Jean-Paul Marna penalty, after the striker had been brought down by Ryan Clarke when he reached a through ball just ahead of the keeper. United's equaliser came from a free kick by the bye-line, won by Matt Green. Adam Murray sidefooted the ball low for Sandwith to turn in with a clinical finish. That was about the only action that the home keeper Lee Harper saw in the first half, although at the other end Clarke had to be sharp to turn aside a shot from Francis Green.

The second half was an altogether more frenetic affair, with Damien Spencer shooting wide when he should have forced Clarke into action, and then Simon Clist having a header well saved by Harper. United were playing the nicer football, some of the time, but Kettering looked more threatening from set pieces, especially the trademark long throws of Exodus Geohaghon. However, the home side were dealt a blow in the 67th minute when Spencer, already booked for a late tackle on Luke Foster, foolishly flew in late and caught Mark Creighton and the ref had no option but to show him a second yellow. After this dismissal Oxford lost momentum and allowed Kettering, who threatened through their pacey wide men, back into the game. In the final minute Oxford came close to the three points when Harper flung himself across the goal to block an Alex Rhodes shot, but the home side could have won the game in stoppage time when Foster deflected wide a goal-bound shot. A draw was a fair result in the end, and both sides seemed grateful for it, but Oxford have some more work to do to turn their good possession play into goals.

Chris Wilder kept Clarke in goal, although Billy Turley was on the bench and seemed relaxed and happy, in stark contrast to reports that he stormed off before the York game on Saturday after finding that he wasn't in the side. Adam Chapman was surprisingly in the side, his under-21 appearance for Northern Ireland apparently not forthcoming, and the rest of the defence was the same as Saturday. In midfield, Alfie Potter started on the right wing, and with Matt Green playing wide left Jack Midson was the lone striker. With 20 minutes remaining James Constable replaced Midson up front, and with Rhodes replacing Sandwith nine minutes later, United moved to a more conventional 4-4-2, with Clist taking over at left back and Green partnering Constable up front.

Tonight's referee was R Hunter, who last took charge of an Oxford game for the Us' 2-1 home defeat by Crawley last September. He showed a yellow card to Foster, United's first of the season, but his inconsistency with his awarding of free kicks irked just about everyone in the ground. The attendance was 2,240, with a decent away following of 1,018.

The draw leaves Kettering in fifth place and Oxford sixth, although after just two games the table is a fairly worthless exercise. Elsewhere, Salisbury City are the surprise early leaders of the Conference after they beat Kidderminster Harriers 1-0 to become the only side in the league with a 100 per cent record. Luton Town's 4-1 thrashing of Mansfield Town sent the Hatters into second place, while Altrincham are third after they won 3-0 at Barrow. Histon, whom United visit on Saturday, are fourth following their goalless draw with Grays Athletic.

Goals from Jamie Cook and Eddie Hutchinson contributed to Crawley Town's 3-1 win over Forest Green Rovers. Eastbourne Borough beat AFC Wimbledon 1-0, while Cambridge United temporarily put their recent woes behind them with a 3-1 win at Ebbsfleet United. York City were held to a 0-0 draw by Rushden & Diamonds, while Hayes & Yeading drew 1-1 with Stevenage Borough. Chester City's game at home to Gateshead was postponed while the FA deliberate Chester's fate, due to be decided on Thursday, or not. [@news]2537[/@news][@opponent]kettering town[/@opponent]