Oxford United U18s drew 1-1 with Stevenage in their second game of their Merit League campaign this afternoon.
Kasway Burton opened the scoring for the U’s in the 31st minute before Stevenage levelled from the penalty spot with 20 minutes to play.
Stevenage were a different threat to other teams that Oxford have faced of late: aggressive and direct, and that stifled United at the start.
Fraser Barnsley’s goal lived a charmed life in the opening 20 minutes. First, Tyrique Tekasala’s effort deflected off Aaron Lacey and floated over the U’s keeper onto the crossbar on 13 minutes.
Lacey then made a superb block five minutes later when it looked like the visitors were destined to open the scoring after a cut back, before Barnsley tipped behind Jake Cowley’s cross after seeing the ball very late.
The U’s didn’t create a chance until Erion Zabeli headed Aidan Elliott-Wheeler’s corner towards the bottom corner at the back post in the 23rd minute, but Rylee Mitchell smothered it behind.
Perhaps undeserved, and very scrappily, United did find the lead. After pinball in the box following Josh Johnson’s clipped cross, Burton appeared on the goal line to volley home just after the half-hour mark.
The goal helped settle the young U’s, who began to keep the ball better and went into the break a goal to the good.
United came out with much more intent in the second half, Tiamuna driving inside three defenders and forcing a fingertip save from Mitchell.
Elliott-Wheeler and Burton had a lot of joy down the right, getting to the by line and putting several dangerous crosses in, but no one could quite get on the end of them.
They looked certain to double their lead in the 65th minute, when Tiamuna took the ball round Mitchell and cut it back to Elliott-Wheeler. He kept his cool and fired first time towards goal, but was denied by a brilliant goalline clearance by Stevenage skipper Owen Cochrane.
But it was Stevenage who scored against the run of play next. Bentley Assiedou was brought down by Barnsley after a loose pass from Erion Zabeli, and Harry Giroud stepped up to convert the penalty.
Zabeli was forced off following the incident, replaced by Jacob Fowler with Josh Johnson filling in at centre half.
Both teams had excellent chances to win the game in the remaining minutes. David Hicks dragged an effort wide for the visitors and Elliott-Wheeler had a big penalty shout waved away by the referee.
The best chance, however, fell to Elliott-Wheeler again, played in by an incredible Ibby Sankoh through ball but denied by Mitchell at the near post.
United probably deserved the win after their second-half performance, but were forced to settle for a draw in the Merit League.
UNITED: Barnsley, Sankoh, Zabeli (Fowler 70), Lacey, Maxwell, Johnson, Took-Oxley, Brenan, Elliott-Wheeler, Burton, Tiamuna
