Oxford United squandered a great opportunity to strengthen their bid to reach the play-offs when they could only manage a draw at home to Stevenage.
It leaves them in sixth place in League One, three points ahead of Lincoln, who have a game in hand and superior goal difference.
Stevenage, who lost manager Steve Evans to Rotherham this week, held out for a point despite not having a shot on target – they scored through an own goal – and being under constant pressure.
Stevenage took the lead against the run of play in the 32nd minute when defender Sam Long, pressured by Kane Hemmings behind him, turned Nick Freeman’s left-wing cross into his own net.
The U’s felt they should have had a penalty when Ruben Rodrigues threaded a pass through to Marcus Browne, who looked to be fouled by goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray in a race to reach the ball.
But referee Tom Nield ignored Oxford’s appeals for a spot-kick.
They were awarded one in the 58th minute, though, when Carl Piergianni brought down Rodrigues on the edge of the box after the Portuguese forward got goalside of him. Cameron Brannagan converted.
The home side dominated the first half, with MacGillivray saving Rodrigues’s fierce drive, Long glancing a header just wide at a corner, and Mark Harris nodding wide from a good position.
The second half saw much of the same, MacGillivray saving from Finn Stevens and from Josh Murphy when he raced through.
Stevenage nearly won it late on as Long cleared off the line and then a shot was deflected off a defender and against a post.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Cumming
- 15Stevens
- 2Long
- 3Brown
- 22Leigh
- 8Brannagan
- 11BrowneSubstituted forDaleat 64′minutes
- 20RodriguesSubstituted forBodinat 72′minutes
- 19GoodrhamSubstituted forHenryat 72′minutes
- 23Murphy
- 9M Harris
Substitutes
- 4Thorniley
- 10Bodin
- 12Bennett
- 13Eastwood
- 14Smyth
- 17Henry
- 30Dale
Stevenage
Formation 4-4-2
- 12MacGillivray
- 14SmithBooked at 88mins
- 15VancootenBooked at 10mins
- 5Piergianni
- 22Guinness-WalkerBooked at 71mins
- 10FreemanSubstituted forListat 80′minutes
- 23Thompson
- 18WhiteSubstituted forThompsonat 90+2′minutes
- 11RobertsSubstituted forSweeneyat 90+2′minutes
- 19ReidSubstituted forThompsonat 60′minutes
- 29Hemmings
Substitutes
- 4Thompson
- 6Sweeney
- 9List
- 20Pressley
- 24Thompson
- 41Mitchell
- 44Evans
- Referee:
- Tom Nield
- Attendance:
- 9,174
Live Text
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Match ends, Oxford United 1, Stevenage 1.
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Second Half ends, Oxford United 1, Stevenage 1.
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Attempt missed. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Kane Smith.
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Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Owen Dale.
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Substitution, Stevenage. Dan Sweeney replaces Jordan Roberts.
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Substitution, Stevenage. Nathan Thompson replaces Harvey White because of an injury.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Harvey White (Stevenage).
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Kane Smith (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Josh Murphy (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Kane Smith (Stevenage).
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Sam Long (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Kane Hemmings (Stevenage).
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Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Finley Stevens with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Owen Dale.
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Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Nesta Guinness-Walker.
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Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Owen Dale.
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Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Cameron Brannagan.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.