Oxford United Under-18s scored two late goals to earn a point against ten-man Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
Kesh Purcell sparked the comeback, before Liam Kiriisa scored in injury time to continue an unbeaten start to the season.
Niall Keown returned to the starting eleven which drew to AFC Wimbledon the week before, looking to continue a positive start in the league.
Unfortunately for Oxford, it was the hosts who got off to the perfect start. A well-worked goal was finished by their number nine, and they had a lead within five minutes.
United struggled to find their feet in the first half and failed to test the Rovers keeper for the opening 45 minutes. Tensions were starting to rise with several yellow cards being handed out as we headed for the half time break.
The Gas scored a second just three minutes into the second half and looked set to secure to their second win of the season.
The referee continued to dish out cards to both teams with five Oxford players going into the book. Rovers’ goal scorer then made a late challenge to pick up his second yellow card, meaning the hosts were down to ten men with twenty minutes left to go.
The Young U's then won a penalty in the 81st minute when Purcell was brought down by the Bristol keeper. Kesh converted to make it 2-1 and half the deficit with ten minutes to play.
Substitute Ethan Dickinson-Annell had to be taken off after colliding with the Bristol keeper, leading to Under-16 Liam Kiriisa coming on in the 90th minute.
Liam equalised for United right at the death, in the sixth minute of injury time. The winger beat the keeper at the near post to complete the two-goal comeback and earn Oxford a late point on the road.
The draw makes it four unbeaten to start the season for the Under-18s, who start their PDL Cup campaign next weekend against Swansea City.
Oxford United:
Jackson, Payne (Mainwaring 69’), Osborne, Folarin, Griffith, Appiah (Andrews 52’), M. Vaughan (Dickinson-Annell 72’, Kiriisa 90’), Palmer-Flynn, Purcell, Dourish, Adesanya
Unused sub:
Waldron
