The first ever league Thames Valley Derby at the Kassam Stadium ended honours even this afternoon as Oxford United and Reading fought out a 1-1 draw.
Leading through a Mark Harris goal in the first half, United were left frustrated when defender Ciaron Brown scored a second-half own goal to make it back-to-back home draws this week for the U's.
There was a fitting derby atmosphere and the expected passion on the pitch throughout, although it took 20 minutes for a shot from either side - Lewis Wing off target rather than testing the returning Simon Eastwood in the United goal.
However, the pace of Tyler Burey was creating openings down the right and after 33 minutes he clipped a good ball across which Brannagan tamed with a clever touch and then crossed from the left. Harris, unmarked two yards from an empty goal, tapped home his 12th of the season.
A goal up at the break, United seemingly had the Biscuitmen over a barrel and started to push them back, with the magnificent Brannagan once again leading the charge and setting the tempo for those around him. The temperature rose and challenges started to fly in, but the United backline was largely untroubled.
All that was needed was a second goal - two long-range efforts went wide, a McGuane effort from similar distance ballooned into the gloves of David Button and then with 13 minutes left Reading managed to grab an equaliser without actually having a shot on target all day. Sub Kelvin Ehibatiomhan charged down the left and crossed and Brown, stumbling, could only guide the ball into his own net to level at 1-1.
It was remarkably similar to the match at Reading earlier in the season - Brown having scored at the right end that night - with a derby-day intensity but the two sides ulitimately cancelling each other out.
Plenty of endeavour, cameos from Deadline Day arrivals Owen Dale and Jay Matete, but a sense of frustration not to have claimed the win.
Attendance 10,897 including 1,475 away fans
Polythene UK Fifty/50 winning number 117670 wins £1,335.50
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher and JasonPix