A late Shrewsbury Town equaliser held Oxford United to a 1-1 draw in Sky Bet League One.

Billy Bodin opened the scoring in the second half on his 100^th Oxford appearance, but Jack Price equalised for the hosts at Croud Meadow with seven minutes remaining, and despite late United pressure the points were shared.

Des Buckingham made just one change from the side that defeated Port Vale before the international break, with Welsh forward Mark Harris in for Will Goodwin.

It was the former Cardiff striker who had the first big chance of the match on 15 minutes. Ruben Rodrigues played an inch-perfect ball through the Shrewsbury defence to send Harris through on goal, but goalkeeper Marko Marosi made a fine save with his feet to deny his low shot.

United enjoyed the best of the opportunities, with Owen Dale curling a shot on goal two minutes later, but it was held by Marosi. 

The hosts did force Jamie Cumming into a wonderful save on the 20^th minute as Carl Winchester smashed a powerful shot towards the bottom left corner from 25 yards, but the Chelsea loanee made a fingertip stop.

Cameron Brannagan was the last man to score for the U’s at this ground in a 1-1 draw last season and he tried his luck again but dragged a shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Des Buckingham’s men were a threat on most occasions they went forward, and Rodrigues had the next chance on 28 minutes, receiving a cutback from Dale around 12 yards out but his shot was blocked near the line by a Shrewsbury defender.

Further chances came for both teams before the break, but despite Oxford United’s dominance the deadlock remained unbroken at half-time.

The U’s would only have to wait eight minutes into the second half before they did get the goal they deserved, with Bodin scoring on his 100^th appearance.

Elliot Moore created the chance with his ball over the top for Josh Murphy, who rounded the goalkeeper, played it back to Harris who flicked it to Bodin and he smashed the ball off the underside of the bar and in.

Captain Moore then went close with a header from a Brannagan corner as United looked to double the lead.

Winchester had Shrewsbury’s best chance in the first half and he then went close to equalising on the 63^rd minute when his strike hit the post after a scramble in the box.

The hosts were beginning to put some pressure on and they would equalise with seven minutes remaining when Jack Price hit a volley from the edge of the box which squeezed past Cumming into the bottom left corner.  

United almost got back in front straight from kick-off, with Bodin played through on goal and his shot was well saved, but the ball fell to Brannagan and his effort was cleared off the line before Murphy finally shot wide.

The manager made two late changes to try and win the game and James Henry was inches away from making an immediate impact but he couldn’t get the vital touch on an excellent ball across the six-yard box.

Right at the death, Joe Bennett lined a free-kick up from 20 yards which just curled the wrong side of the top right corner.

It's a result which sees United drop a place to seventh, level on points with Lincoln City, with Fleetwood Town up next at home on Monday afternoon.

Report: Ryan Maher

Photos: Steve Edmunds, Steve Daniels, Darrell Fisher