What would have been a deserved and heroic draw for a 10 man team, became a damaging fourth consecutive League defeat when Oxford snatched a set-piece winner.

Well on top until young centre-back Martin McNeil was sent off for two fouls on Joey Beauchamp in the 32nd minute, United still matched the home team despite also being without the strength of flu victim Paul Wanless.

It hardly sounded like the biggest crowd of the season at the Manor Ground, as United managed to subdue Oxford and turn the second half into a stalemate which seemed to be heading for a goalless draw.

Until Mickey Lewis sent on one of the biggest men in League football, 6ft 7ins striker Kevin Francis.

His towering presence at an 82nd minute corner kick attracted the attention of centre-halves Scott Eustace and Marc Joseph, leaving Matt Murphy free to power a header inside the far post.

United manager Roy McFarland identified an individual error -- Neil Mustoe losing Murphy in the packed penalty area.

And unfortunately for his team, it was one of too many crucial mistakes which studded a good overall display.

Eustace aimed a close range header straight at goalkeeper Andre Arendse right at the start. And a few minutes from the end Mustoe, and Martin Butler of all people, missed golden opportunities to equalise.

Trevor Benjamin's 88th minute challenge with a defender in the box left both of them on the ground, the ball breaking for Butler, with the keeper at his mercy.

The 17 goals striker snatched at his shot though, hitting it straight at the fallen Oxford man.

Within a minute Butler broke through again, hitting a square pass to Mustoe, who had a clear sight of goal. But the midfielder, on his wrong foot, lifted a shot high over the crossbar.

"Martin knows he should have scored," said McFarland. "It was a very good chance for a striker, and he could have chipped a shot over the keeper."

There might not have been such a desperate need for a late goal however if United had not been reduced to 10 men after dominating the opening half an hour.

Teenage centre-back Martin McNeil's naivety was fully exposed when he lunged into challenges on one of the trickiest wingers in the lower divisions, twice bringing Beauchamp down.

"It was a costly mistake for us," said the United boss. "Martin is well aware he can't go in like that, and I'll be talking to him about it.

"I can't really argue about his bookings, although it might have made a difference if the referee was consistent.

"One of their defenders escaped a booking for blocking Martin Butler when the referee also failed to play advantage, with Martin going for goal."

United going for goal was the pattern of play until McNeil's dismisal. "I was very impressed," said Oxford coach Lewis: "Cambridge had us on the back foot and we had to defend well."

Alex Russell was their tormentor, significantly showing what United have been missing during his months on the injured list.

After setting up the early chance for Eustace with a superb chipped centre, the midfielder beat a defender to launch another attack, then ghosted past two men to spark panic in the Oxford box.

With veteran coach David Preece and Ian Ashbee helping Russell run the game, McFarland's decision to drop Trevor Benjamin and switch to 4-4-2 looked like working out.

Oxford were restricted to a single first half threat, a Beauchamp inspired move producing a corner at which Murphy forced a save from Shaun Marshall.

Depleted United tired as the second half wore on, but they worked hard enough to send many Oxford fans home before the 82nd minute winner.

A Beauchamp break in the 65th minute, his shot skidding wide, was a rare threat from open play.

United were understandibly downcast as they emerged from the changing room after a game in which they gave so much for no reward.

It was the sort of agonizingly frustrating match which it has to be said you see in relegation seasons. But McFarland was defiantly upbeat.

"There were pluses for me in the performances of Alex Russell and Tom Youngs," he said, before making a prediction the supporters will pray is more accurate than most of "Old Moore's" musings on the first year of the 21st century: "If we carry on playing like that, we'll be okay come the end of the season."