Mickey Corcoran was at the centre of the three most significant incidents this afternoon, as United were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly York City. Corcoran tripped Paul Brayson after half an hour to concede a penalty, saved by Billy Turley from Stuart Elliott. Seven minutes later it was Corcoran who rose highest to head home Alex Jeannin's free kick after Yemi Odubade had been crudely tripped just outside the York area. Then, as United were grimly hanging on with less than ten minutes remaining, Matt Day needlessly conceded a corner. It looked like an easy clearance for Corkers, but instead of guiding the ball to safety, he ducked under the ball, claiming he heard Turley shout, and Onome Sodje headed home, unmarked.

To be fair, York probably deserved the goal, having the better of the first half hour until the penalty save, after which United took control. A Brayson header came back off the bar after just three minutes, and Manny Panther really should have scored when he found himself free on the edge of the area fifteen minutes before half time, but his tame shot was well saved by Turley, diving to his left. After United equalised they almost made it 2-0 immediately, but Eddie Anaclet was robbed as he shaped to shoot. Then United did have the ball in the net after Stephen Henderson dropped the ball when challenged by Rob duffy and Barry Quinn prodded the ball home, but the referee blew for a foul on Henderson, that only he could see. In the second half United looked the better side, passing the ball around nicely, but failing to create any chances. The longer the half went on the more reluctant Oxford became to chase the second, killer, goal, and the deeper the defence sat. However, they should still have seen the game out but for Day's and Corcoran's defensive BSE.

Jim Smith kept the same starting line up as in the win over Salisbury last Tuesday, for the first time this season. Unfortunately, he was forced into a change just three minutes before half time, when Duffy was forced from the field nursing an arm injury, possibly a broken wrist. He was replaced by Gary Twigg, making his first appearance since his ankle was injured at Stevenage. Ten minutes after the break (or 13 minutes after Duffy's break), Barry Quinn was forced off, allowing Chris Willmott to make his first appearance since 2 December, when he was injured, also at Stevenage, last season. Ten minutes later the final change was made when Carl Pettefer came on for Eddie Hutchinson.

Today's officious in charge was Phil Gibbs, who also took charge of United's 0-0 draw at Stevenage. Unfortunately, he failed to carry on the recent trend of decent Conference referees, and instead was over-fussy, penalising for almost nothing, and failed to clamp down on gamesmanship. He booked Day, Jeannin, Duffy, and Turley, the goalie for having the cheek to complain at Sodje's blatant time wasting. The attendance was 4,944, of whom 220 were in the away end.

The draw takes Oxford up to eighth place, just above Exeter City, who visit third-place Aldershot on Tuesday. If United had held on they would have gone up to sixth place. As it is, United are five points beneath the play offs, and 12 points adrift of the only automatic promotion place. York have climbed one place, going above Farsley Celtic on goal difference, up to 19th.

Yesterday's games saw Torquay move four points clear at the top of the Conference, after they beat Droylsden, whom United visit on Saturday. Torquay were 1-0 down at half time, but came back to win 2-1, with Tim Sills scoring the equaliser. Stevenage went second thanks to a 2-0 win at Grays Athletic, but Cambridge stay fourth after they lost 3-1 at seventh-placed Forest Green Rovers, for whom Stuart Fleetwood scored a hat trick. Salisbury City stayed sixth after losing 1-0 at home to Kidderminster Harriers. Bottom side Northwich Victoria lost 3-1 at home to Woking, while Stafford Rangers stayed third from bottom despite drawing 1-1 at Rushden & Diamonds. Altrincham remain 21st, although they won 1-0 at Crawley Town. Farsley Celtic drew 1-1 with Ebbsfleet United, while Histon and Weymouth drew 2-2.