U's earn first point
           Cambridge striker Tom Young scored a first half equaliser to deny Oxford their first win
           of the season.
           Oxford manager Dennis Smith missed the game as he was in hospital suffering from a
           blood infection but he would have been delighted with the way his side started the game.
           The division's bottom club began the brighter of the two sides with Paul Tait controlling
           the game from midfield.
           The home side nearly opened the scoring in the first ten minutes when trialist Lee
           Jarman saw his header crashed against the crossbar from a Joey Beauchamp free-kick.

           It was Beauchamp who orchestrated the first goal after 15 minutes when Oxford were
           awarded another free-kick on the left hand side 25 yards from goal. Beauchamp ran up
           to strike the ball but instead played a clever back-heel to Jarman who drilled a
           thunderous shot into the corner of the net, giving Lionel Perez no chance in the
           Cambridge goal.
           Just when Oxford threatened to extend their lead, the visitors broke and scored with
           their first attack of the game.
           A long ball from Andrew Duncan found Zema Abbey who chested down to his strike
           partner Tom Young. He stepped inside his man and slotted the ball past Richard Knight.
           Knight managed to get a hand to it but couldn't prevent the visitors equalising very much
           against the run of play.
           However, the goal changed the pattern of the game and Cambridge began to dominate
           proceedings with Abbey and Alex Russell controlling the game and threatening to put
           their side ahead.
           Steve McAnespie should have done just that when the ball fell to him eight yards from
           goal but his left foot shot was weak and well wide of the target.
           Midfielder Neil Mustoe saw his header well saved after excellent work and a good cross
           from Abbey, who excelled throughout the first half. Derby County boss Jim Smith and
           Birmingham's Trevor Francis were both present at the game believed to be keeping tabs
           on Abbey and will have been impressed with what they saw.
           Both sides were very tentative in the second half with no real incidents apart from Lee
           Jarman and Andrew Duncan picking up bookings for late challenges.
           That was until Joey Beauchamp picked the ball up on the half way line with 15 minutes
           to go. He ghosted past two defenders before blasting a 25-yard shot towards goal. The
           ball seemed destined for the top corner but Lionel Perez produced a flying save to deny
           the Oxford winger. Both players acknowledged each others ability after the ball had
           gone for a corner with a raised salute.
           Beauchamp's effort was the only main highlight of a dull second half in which neither
           side looked like grabbing a winner. Both sides became increasingly frustrated and Dean
           Whitehead was booked for dissent in the dying minutes.
           Oxford will be glad to register their first point of the season but will have to improve their
           all round play if they are to avoid a long hard season at the wrong end of the table.

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