This evening United continued on their charge towards the play-offs as they could only draw against a well-organised, but pretty average, York City. The goalless scoreline doesn’t tell the complete story, as Oxford hit the woodwork four times, all in the second half, to York’s one, in the first half. First Julian Alsop headed against the bar after a deft chip into the box from Mark Rawle, then Alsop again hit the bar following a cross from ROS Chris Hackett, and from the rebound a snap header from Rawle again cannoned off the woodwork. Finally, in injury time, a Dean Whitehead cross was met by Alsop, whose header came back off the post.

Barry Quinn came straight into the side for his debut, replacing Paul Wanless, who allegedly has been suffering from a toe injury for a while. Lee Steele also returned to the starting line-up, as Rawle dropped to the bench. Rawle came on for Steele five minutes into the second half and, with 20 minutes remaining, Hackett replaced the disappointing Scott McNiven. There were just six minutes left when Dave Waterman replaced Quinn.

The referee was Graham Salisbury, who also took charge of United’s game at Hull, and again he had a very good game. No Oxford player was booked. The attendance was a desparately poor 5,091. We hope to publish a match report tomorrow (if anyone would care to send us one).

The point gained is enough to ensure that United will stay at least third on Saturday, unless Huddersfield win by six goals or more (let’s not tempt fate, though), as the gap over the Terriers is now three points, although Huddersfield do now have a game in hand, as do Hull who are now one point ahead of United. In the evening’s other fixture, Southend won 2-0 at Boston United, to leave the Pilgrims just four points above the relegation zone, but to leave Southend in the relative safety of 16th position, three points above Boston.