Oxford City 1-1 Boston United

With the game three minutes into added time, Oxford looked to have stolen all three points when Tom Winters converted from close-range, but United were not finished.

Skipper Ian Ross fired home a deflected free-kick five minutes into stoppage time to haul the Pilgrims level, with a point being the very least they deserved.

It had been a tight and cagey affair with neither side looking particularly like breaking the deadlock — before the stoppage time drama unfolded.

First half chances, with United showing an unchanged line-up for the eighth match in a row, were at a premium with keepers Ashley Timms and Victor Francoz dealing with respective efforts from Saul Williams and Ricky Miller.

United were dealt an injury blow when Ben Milnes hobbled off on 31 minutes to be replaced by debutant Michael Clunan.

Further first half opportunities fell to Winters, who blazed high and wide following Mike Symons’ cutback, and Spencer Weir-Daley, who lashed an effort wide following a Peter Bore cross.

United had the better of the second half with Marc Newsham’s looping header falling just short of Weir-Daley for a tap-in, while the same two players were soon in the thick of things once again.

Weir-Daley’s volley was pushed on to the post by Francoz and Newsham crashed the rebound over the bar.

There was a late sting in the tail for United when Newsham lost possession in the City half, which allowed substitute Declan Benjamin to surge forward.

He was impeded by Carl Piergianni but regained his composure and with the referee allowing the advantage, United hesitated and WINTERS slammed the ball home at the back post to seemingly hand the home side their first win of the season.

United looked deflated but mustered a brilliant response. With referee Constantine Hatzidakis adjudging that Scott Garner had been fouled by Chris Willmott on the edge of the Oxford box, ROSS stepped up to crack home a free-kick which deflected beyond Francoz and left all United connections feeling a massive sense of relief.

Oxford (4-4-2): Victor Francoz; James Clifton, Lee Henderson, Chris Willmott, Paul Stonehouse; Saul Williams (Declan Benjamin 81), Liam Malone, Darren Pond, Tom Winters; Mike Symons (Adam Learoyd 90), Callum McNish (Jamie Cook 79). Subs (not used): Steve Basham, Mark Scott (gk).

Boston (4-3-3): Ashley Timms; Peter Bore, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, Netan Sansara; Ian Ross, Conor Marshall, Ben Milnes (Michael Clunan 31); Spencer Weir-Daley (James Reed 90), Marc Newsham, Ricky Miller (Ben Fairclough 77). Subs (not used): Stefan Galinski, Sam Vince (gk).

Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis

Attendance: 234