With a two goal advantage at the break things were looking up for Garry Haylock’s side at Oxford City only for the home side to hit back with two strikes of their own early in the second half to leave United staring into the relegation pit by match end, it did however snap a three game losing streak but now leaves United with just three fixtures remaining to avoid the drop.

After two heavy home defeats, the Manager re-arranged his defence moving Sean Cronin to right-back, Emmanuel Monthe moved in to the middle alongside Darren Purse with Aaron Tumwa returning from International duty to fill the left-back slot.

Following an early Adam Everitt effort that was comfortably fielded by Lawrie Walker in the City goal, a move down the left by the home side saw Marlon Jackson hit a swerving drive from 20 yards that James Hamon did superbly well to tip over at full stretch.

Around the half hour mark United took the lead. Max Worsfold helped the ball on to Elliot Benyon, his first effort was well saved down low by Walker but the tenacious United striker reclaimed possession and fired the ball across from the bye-line, Jose Lapoujade putting the ball into his own net from two yards.

Seven minutes later the United lead doubled. A free-kick from the right was headed back across goal by Purse, Cronin then headed it back into the middle of the six yard box where Benyon arrived to head home from a couple of yards with the ‘keeper and defender standing on the line appealing for an offside that was never going to come (below left).

The second half could not have started worse for United as in just the 47th minute Lapoujade made up for his earlier error, arriving at the far post unchallenged to head home a free-kick that had been pumped in from just inside the United half.

Ten minutes later, a throw-in on the right found Julen Lafuente, he moved past Tumwa to the bye-line before pulling the ball back to Bradley Bubb just inside the box, the striker applying a low direct finish in to the bottom corner that Hamon couldn’t quite reach.

United went back on the attack, Benyon chasing down and winning a Tumwa ball up the left side and having cut in to the City area his shot and the follow up by Ashley Lodge were charged down by the home defence.

The home side then missed a guilt edged chance when Bubb pulled the ball across from inside the United area, Kynan Isaac arrived at the far post and with the goal gaping, totally missed the ball six yards out.

City continued to press for a third which should have come when the ball was squared to the in-coming Tyriq Hunte but he fired straight at Hamon, the United stopper keeping the ball out with his legs while the follow-up effort by Jackson was blocked by Monthe.

With pretty much the final touch of the game United had a similar chance to that missed by City earlier. The ever running Benyon did well to retain possession on the right before picking out Jordaan Brown, the United man slicing his effort wildly and barely making contact 15 yards from goal and United had to settle for a point.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Lisa Corbett.

United Man of the Match: Elliot Benyon.

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