Oxford maintained there unbeaten record today as they  battled to a 1-1draw against Weymouth.  In a scrappy encounter, United were heading towards their first defeat of the season until an injury time equalizer from Chris Hargreaves cancelled out an own goal from Gavin Johnson.

Jim Smith kept faith with the same sixteen that were involved against Northwich.Steve Basham and Rob Duffy continued in attack although John Dempster missed the game after failing to shake off his injury.

After the rout on Saturday, this was always going to be a tough test, but one thing that was evident as the game kicked off, was that United were going to get massive vocal support from the travelling fans.In fact during my pre-match meal (Full English Fat Boy Breakfast) this morning on the seafront, it was impossible not to see a Yellow shirt!

The first few minutes were always going to be frantic, and the strong wind was making conditions difficult for both teams.You did get the feeling though that United would be happy to bed themselves into the match and soak up the early Weymouth pressure.

It almost went horribly wrong in the 10^th minute when Chukki Eribenne found space in the box and headed just wide from a corner, but apart from that, at this very early stage of the match the United defence were coping well with the large physical threat that Weymouth were posing in attack.

United were dealt a blow in the 13^th minute when Steve Basham had to leave the pitch with an injury and had to be replaced by Yemi Odubade, but with the Weymouth back three looking short of pace, maybe the change would work in Oxford's favour later in the match.

However, for the first time in the match the home side were beginning to get on top.With the wind becoming more of a factor Weymouth were passing the ball through the middle of the park and getting the ball wide, and with United unable to keep possession of the ball, they were coming under serious pressure.

But despite conceding the majority of possession, the United defence were holding firm and it was difficult to remember a clear Weymouth shooting chance. And as the half-time whistle sounded United would be relatively happy with the score-line.

That almost changed a minute into the second half when former Carlisle striker Raphael Nade headed a decent El Kholti just wide of the post as the home side pushed for the opening goal and it was important that Oxford maintained their shape and did not concede.

With United now kicking into the wind the home side were forced to change their tactics.In the first half, with the ball holding up in the wind, Weymouth were exploiting their two big strikers, playing long balls forward and trying to win the second ball, but now with the wind at their backs, any balls played over the top would run straight through out of play  and it did not look as though the Terra's front two had the pace to get behind the United defence.

Weymouth are another decent side though and are unbeaten at home in their last twenty-five games.In an effort to end that streak, Jim Smith threw on Eddie Hutchinson in place of the hardworking Carl Pettefer ten minutes into the second half to add more steel to the United midfield.

It was still the home side that were pressing though and they created the best chance of the match in the 63^rd minute when Billy Turley had to be at his best to push over a rasping twenty yard Simon Weatherstone drive and then just two minutes later Lee Elam was allowed to run thirty yards before crashing his shot into the side netting as Weymouth pressed.

But United were battling and with Gilchrist marshalling his defence superbly the home side were struggling to create a clear chance and  Oxford were happy to sit deep and try to catch the home side on the break.

It almost worked a treat in the 70^th minute when Quinn curled a free-kick just wide of the post after good work from Odubade had won the free-kick.

But with United looking solid, and against the run of play, Weymouth took the lead in bizarre circumstances just ten minutes from the end of the match.

There seemed to be no danger when Ashley Vickers launched a forty yard ball towards the Oxford box towards Gavin Johnson, but instead of glancing the header away from danger, the defender got more on the ball than he wanted and watched in horror as the ball looped over Turley into the empty net from fully twenty yards.

It was bad luck on United and the magnificent United fans.  But United now needed to show what they were made off.  Smith pushed men forward, but as we reached injury time, it seemed as though United were heading for their first defeat of the season despite constant pressure on the Weymouth goal.

That was until the second minute of injury time when United scored.  Duffy played in a cross, Yemi challenged, the keeper dropped it and it was cleared to Hargreaves who slotted the ball into the empty net to send the United fans into raptures!

It was no more than United deserved and given the conditions, United would be happy with the point.

Phew!!! Bring on St Albans!

Report Julian Hitchman, pictures D Fisher