Oxford United were forced to settle for just one point at the Valley today.

Leading through an early Marcus Browne strike, United were pegged back when home captain Jayden Stockley headed home an equaliser soon after the break to frustrate the U's, who had dominated the first half and had chances to win later in the game.

Browne, once a transfer target for Charlton before opting for Oxford, rifled the U’s into a 12th-minute lead when he popped up in the right channel, latched on to a Kyle Joseph header, drove at the retreating home defence, and fired the ball low past keeper Joe Woolacott for an expertly taken first of the season.

Elliott Moore, returning as captain at the heart of a four-man defence, settled things down at the other end, and with Cameron Brannagan in control of the midfield, United were sitting pretty at the break.

Indeed, they had created further chances: the hugely effective Marcus McGuane sprinted the length of the pitch but rolled a Joseph pass a foot the wrong side of the post, and Browne fired over from the edge of the box, but United were largely untroubled at the other end as the Addicks struggled to find a way through in a frustrating first half for the home fans, who booed their team from the field at the break.

The shot-shy Addicks didn’t manage a shot, on or off target, in the first half but came out almost unrecognisable and swiftly took the game to the U's.

A speculative effort from Mandela Egbo floated over the bar soon after, there were loud shouts for a penalty as the ball hit a trailing United arm, and on 56 minutes they were level when Stuart Findlay bravely blocked one shot but captain Stockley was there to nod the ball home when the rebound was chipped to the back post.

United had been creating chances despite the step up from their hosts: Lewis Bate and James Henry both had decent opportunities from around the edge of the box, but now we had a game with both sides playing.

Steven Sessegnon slid a chance wide on 65 minutes but Joseph was only denied by a brave block at the other end moments later, having been set free by the returning Matty Taylor.

The second half was much more even, but United will reflect on that opening period and know that they could have killed the game off. They could even have done it in injury time at the end of 90 when first sub Billy Bodin danced clear but sent the ball high over the bar and into the superb away fans, who had braved a train strike to give their side fantastic support, and then Jodi Jones almost bent a winner into the far corner only for Wollacott to claw it away.

Credit to Simon Eastwood for a magnificent save in between those chances, when George Dobsonn ran clear, preserving a point on the road that is always welcome.

The return of Moore and Taylor, with other players not too far behind, will be further positives to take away from the game for the U's, who now go into a week with two home matches: Chelsea Under 21s in the Papa Johns Trophy on Tuesday night and then Wycombe at home in the league.

See you there.

Att: 12,806
Away: 1,058

Report by Chris Williams, pictures by Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds and Darrell Fisher