United and Oxford shared the points after entertaining game at the R Costings Abbey Stadium ended all square.
Chris Wilder's side lived up to their billing as the league's strongest team by dominating possession, but it was United who had the better chances, with visiting stopper Ryan Clarke twice making stunning saves to deny Danny Crow.
Anthony Tonkin's late red card for a challenge on Crow set up a frantic final 15 minutes, but neither side was able to find the crucial second goal.
Backed by a vocal travelling support, Oxford dominated the early moments, with Adam Chapman seeing a shot deflected over and Simon Clist heading into the arms of Simon Brown after finding space at the far post. But the U's back four held out well under pressure, looking particularly impressive when defending set pieces, and it was one of their number who gave Martin Ling's men the lead.
Danny Crow was fouled near left corner flag, Simon Russell whipped the free kick into the far post, where it was headed back across goal by Dave Partridge for Brian Saah to control and stab home from close range.
From then on, Oxford took control of the half, with United's clearances getting more and more desperate as time progressed. The visitors' pressure finally paid off on the stroke of half time, when a corner was cleared out to Clist, who worked it back into the box where Matt Green had time to turn and shoot under Brown, with the United defence appealing in vain for offside.
The pace and movement of the Oxford front pairing of Green and Aldershot loanee John Grant caused the U's defence problems all night. Grant in particular looked very dangerous, filling the void created by the absence of injured top-scorer James Constable. But they were unable to trouble Brown, and in the second half United almost took the lead with what would undoubtedly have been a goal of the season contender.
Spotting Clarke yards off his line, Crow controlled the ball on his chest 35 yards from goal and unleashed an arcing volley which was spinning towards the net before the Oxford keeper intervened, leaping to palm the ball over the bar.
Green had a shot blocked before Tonkin was given his marching orders in the 75th minute for bundling Crow to the ground as he ran clear on goal to meet a through ball from substitute Jai Reason. United's top scorer took the resulting free kick, but Clarke was equal to it and pushed his shot onto the bar and away for a corner.
United pushed forward looking to make the most of their man advantage, and sub Josh Coulson thought he had scored the winner, heading a Reason free kick past Clarke but seeing the impressive Jake Wright appear from nowhere to make a miraculous clearance from almost under his own cross bar.
Then Oxford broke, and after a spell of panicky United defending, the ball fell to Clist in the area, but his close range shot on the turn was blocked by the ample chest of Brown.
Overall a draw was probably a fair result, and United will take heart from their performance ahead of Saturday's long trip to Barrow.
Man of the Match: Brian Saah - Back in the side as if he had never been away, Saah was immaculate in defence and netted the all-important goal in the first half.
Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Dan Gleeson, Aiden Palmer, Brian Saah, David Partridge (Coulson 79), Paul Carden, Rory McAuley (Reason 72), Simon Russell, Sam Ives, Danny Crow, Lee Phillips (Willock 70). Subs not used: Mark Beesley, Kevin Roberts.
Booked: Gleeson 44 (foul), Partridge 60 (foul), Carden 90 (foul).
Oxford United: Ryan Clarke, Damian Batt, Anthony Tonkin, Jake Wright, Rhys Day, Chris Hargreaves, Adam Chapman (Deering 63), Simon Clist, Dannie Bulman, John Grant (Midson 87), Matt Green (Creighton 75). Subs not used: Billy Turley, Ashley Cain.
Booked: None
Sent Off: Tonkin 75 (professional foul).
Referee: Mr S.Ross.
Attendance: 3,002 (away 678)
Matthew Gooding
AS IT HAPPENED
FULL TIME: Cambridge United 1 - 1 Oxford United
21.37: And there goes the final whistle. Another game without a win, but another spirited performance from United. Both sides had chances to win it, so a draw is probably about right. Plenty of positives for Martin Ling tonight I'm off to get my breath back.
21.36: My life, Oxford could have snatched it there, the ball spins off a number of heads before being delivered back into the area. Clist turns and sees his shot blocked at close range by Brown, superb reactions from the U's stopper.
21.34: Yellow card. This ref is a joker. Midson flings himself down after competing for a 50/50 with Carden and gets a free kick. Even more ridiculously Carden is yellow carded. Deering's cross deflects off the wall and Brown has to paw it away at his near post.
21.32: Unbelievable. Amazing clearance from Wright underneath his own bar after Coulson had headed Reason's free kick goalwards. That clearance actually defied the laws of physics.
21.30: Another Oxford free kick, quelle surprise. Ives penalised for the merest touch on Clist. Jack Midson replaces Grant to give Oxford fresh legs up front. He can't connect with the free kick though, which Brown claims, but Oxford are soon back on the attack and Deering is fouled 30 yards out. Heart in mouth time, but it's another poor delivery and again Brown makes a simple catch.
21.28: Brian Saah picks up the sponsors man of the match. Deering tries to work something on the Oxford right, but he runs the ball out for a goal kick.
21.25: He saw that one though, Reason nudged in the back by Clist. The NRE in full voice as Jai lines up the free kick from half way. Free kick deep and flicks off an Oxford head for a United throw, which Oxford deal with.
21.24: Linesman flags for a foul on Willock, but the ref over-rules him from 30 yards away. Strange decision.
21.22: Partridge, who appeared to take a knock earlier, is replaced by Josh Coulson. Grant's persistance immediately wins a corner off the new man, but Brown grabs it at his near post. United have their tails up, but we all know what normally happens against ten men...
21.20: The angle appeared to favour the left footer, but Crow's right footed effort curls over the wall and is touched onto the bar and away by Clarke. Corner, which is cleared at the expense of another. Again Oxford head away as far as Reason, who gets the ball back into the box but Saah can't connect.
21.18: RED CARD. Reason wins the ball in midfield and sets Crow away with a pinpoint pass. Tonkin gives chase, and bundles Crow over. No choice for the ref, clear red card, and free kick to United right on the edge of the box. Immediately Oxford bolster their defence, replacing Green with Mark Creighton.
21.17: Hmm, that should have been a goal, the ball squirming via Grant into the path of Green, whose shot from near the penalty spot is blocked. The ball rebounds to Hargreaves, who blasts his effort over.
21.15: And another change, with McAuley, who's been excellent, replaced by Jai Reason.
21.13: Oxford break after Carden gifts them the ball on half way, but Russell, tracking back, wins the ball off Deering. United make their first change, Callum Willock replacing Phillips.
21.10: Panic stations in the Oxford box this time as they scramble away a Gleeson long throw. Oxford break and the ever-dangerous Grant wins them a corner, which Brown grabs at the near post.
21.09: Audacious from Crow, who spots Clarke off his line and goes for a lob from fully 30 yards which the back peddling keeper turns over the bar at full stretch. That would have been a superb strike, great vision from the U's top scorer. The corner is, frankly, rubbish, and Oxford clear.
21.08: United crowded out as they try to fashion a chance on the edge of the box, and a lightning Oxford break with that man Grant again forces Palmer to flick the ball away for a throw in.
21.06: First change for Oxford, with Sam Deering taking to the field in place of Chapman. He can give his arms a rest now.
21.04: Grant bundles Palmer off the ball far too easily, and puts in a low cross which somehow finds its way into Brown's hands. That was a let-off, Palmer needed to be stronger there.
21.03: Yellow Card. Oxford back on the offensive. Chapman's long throw is headed clear, and Russell nicks the ball off the same player before he get a cross in. United clear, but McAuley is dispossessed and Grant brings the ball away, only to be brought down by Partridge, who is booked for his troubles. Probably a fair one that. Hargreaves climbs to meet the free kick, but is penalised for pushing.
20.59: The Oxford front two's movement is exceptional, shame Grant isn't a bit more sure-footed. He wins another free kick 30 yards out, going down under minimal contact from Carden. Chapman's free kick is into what cricket commentators would call the corridor of uncertainty, but nobody can get a touch and it goes behind for a goal kick.
20.58: Partridge and Gleeson a bit fortunate to muddle the ball away under pressure from Green. Oxford starting to turn the screw.
20.57: Big Phill back on his feet and play will resume with a drop ball, much to the chagrin of the Oxford fans, who felt their side should've had a free kick for a tug on Grant.
20.56: Nice move down the left involving Palmer, Ives, Crow and finally Russell sees the U's left winger win a corner off Wright. The same players cross bobbles off a few heads before being struck clear, and in the aftermath Lee Phillips stays down and requires lengthy treatment from Greg Reid.
20.53: More nervous defending from United almost lets Grant in, but Palmer clears.
20.51: Quick throw from Palmer looks for Russell, who works the ball back to the U's left back, who is flattened and United have a free kick. It goes high to the edge of the box and Saah's persistance wins a corner. Russell's outswinger is poor and Oxford clear.
20.49: Shameful dive from Grant thankfully isn't bought by the referee, and United clear and win a throw. Phillips tries to get a flick but the immaculate Jake Wright heads away.
20.48: Here we go again. Russell bursts down the left and wins a throw. McAuley's long throw is clutched by Clarke.
20.47: We've just had the bizarre sight of a penalty shoot out between United legend Paul Wanless and 80's television legend (and Oxford fan) Timmy Mallett. Even more bizarrely, they were kicking giant testicles into the goal to highlight testicular cancer awareness. Still, that's another thing ticked off the list of events I didn't think I'd see in my lifetime. The teams are back, I'll stop waffling.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 1 OXFORD UNITED
20.32: One minute to be added, and United negotiate it without any further scares. Ling's men are perhaps a little fortunate to be going in all square, as Oxford have dominated without testing Simon Brown too much. In the main United have stuck to their task well, particularly from set pieces, but they still have a lot to do if they are going to take anything from this game.
20.30: Yellow Card. Gleeson takes his frustrations out on Green's shins, and Oxford have a free kick right on the edge of the D. United's number two becomes the first name in the book. Chapman's effort is curled in right footed, but Brown is equal to it and parries the ball clear.
20.26: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 1 OXFORD Flag stays down against Grant when he looked suspiciously offside, but he turns and finds Chapman whose shot is blocked behind for a corner, which United defend at the near post. However the danger isn't cleared, Clist and Tonkin work the ball back into the box, and Matt Green has time to control and fire under Brown. A deserved equaliser.
20.23: McAuley escapes a booking for a tug on Day on half way. Palmer slides in with a cracking tackle to rob Clist, but the gap between the United strikers and the other eight outfield players is widening by the minute, and as a result we're struggling to maintain possession.
20.19: A stamp by Chapman on Russell goes unpunished, And oh my word, Brown completely scuffs an attempted clearance and it bounces behind for a corner. The ball comes into the far post and is headed clear, but United are looking extremely stretched at times and it would be a big ask to expect them to withstand this much pressure for the rest of the match.
20.17: Oxford fans ironically cheer when they get a throw. Not entirely sure what they've got to feel agrieved about. Tonkin's long throw causes chaos, and somewhat fortunately the ball falls to the back-tracking Crow, who clears.
20.15: Great defending from Saah, who uses his strength to hold off Green and block his shot at the expense of a corner. That was a good chance. Oxford corner worked out to the edge of the box but Carden snaps in to clear.
20.14: Chapman's throws are like bullets, and United have to scuff another one to safety at full stretch.
20.13: Finally a free kick goes United's way, with Green being pulled up for a foul on Partridge.
20.12: United with a fortuitous corner after the ball appeared to come off Crow. Russell delivers high, but Crow is penalised for jumping in the vicinity of keeper Clarke.
20.10: The ref has given Oxford everything since we scored, perhaps someone should tell him we need all the help we can get. Chapman, Palmer, and Carden tussle, and of course it's an Oxford free kick, but the ball into the box flicks off Grant's head and behind.
20.08: United not amused as Grant crumples on the edge of the area under challenge from Gleeson. Very dangerous position, but Palmer is quickly in to block Chapman's shot almost as soon as it left his boot. United panicking a bit though, and some hit and hope defending sees Clist pick up the ball 30 yards out and fire a shot into Brown's arms.
20.06: Oxford straight back on the offensive, and Hargreaves win a free kick on their left 30 yards out. The initial set piece is cleared, but Tonkin returns it to Green, who in turn finds Chapman, and his volley is deflected over for a corner. The first flag kick is cleared behind at the near post, and the second is hooked to safety by Gleeson.
20.03: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 0 OXFORD UNITED - Russell's free kick is a peach, delivered to the back post, where McAuley finds some space and heads it back into the goalmouth. With a posse of United players waiting, Brian Saah gets to the ball first and pokes it home. Hurrah.
20.02: Crow robs the ponderous Day, but Jake Wright comes to his partner's aid. However Crow doesn't give up, and wins a free kick in the corner.
20.01: Russell lucky to escape with a talking to for a studs up tackle on Batt. Luckily he didn't make contact. Oxford's free kick is long and straight through to Brown.
19.59: Phillips fouled, and United have a free kick on the right touch line, 35 yards from goal. Russell's delivery isn't the best, and is headed away, but United keep the pressure on, and Brian Saah holds the ball up before finding McAuley, whose volley is blocked and Oxford hoof to safety.
19.57: Carden robbed by Grant, who puts in strike partner Green, but the ex-Torquay man is leaning all over Dan Gleeson, and United have a free kick and a chance to clear.
19.56: Crow robs Bulman and sets United on the attack. The ball is eventually worked across to Gleeson, whose cross finds Phillips, but the offside flag was up and the visitors have the free kick.
19.54: Long ball from Chapman finds Grant in space, but he cuts inside and choses to shoot, only succeeding in hitting a tame effort at Brown. He had options did Grant, maybe he should've used one of them. Brown then races to the edge of his box to just hold onto a long pass ahead of Green.
19.53: Batt loops a high cross into the back post but Clist can only head weakly into the hands of Brown.
19.52: Big Brian Saah glides out of defence to clear, and almost sets United on the counter, but McAuley is blocked off, legally says the ref.
19.50: Crow floored just inside Oxford territory. Free kick worked quickly out to the right, but a little too quickly, and Oxford get men behind the ball and defend it well. Carden then mistimes a tackle on half way and earns a talking to from the ref.
19.48: United counter through Russell on the left, but the ball is worked clear. United come again, but Crow can't quite link up with Phillips, with the formers pass falling just behind the latter, and the ball is cleared.
19.47: Early cross-field ball from Ives finds only touch, and Oxford have a throw. Chapman launches it into the box, and the ball runs to Day, whose thunderous goal-bound shot is blocked by McAuley. Early scare for the U's.
19.46: And it's go go go. Oxford kick off, attacking the NRE. Great atmosphere, the Abbey is bouncing.
19.44: Hmm, the Oxford fans are proudly holding aloft a banner hailing the "City of dreaming spires". Not sure about that one, perhaps they really do only sing when they're rowing and other such varsity cliches.
19.42: As you would expect from the league leaders, a goodly number of Oxfordians have made the journey, and have been herded into the South Stand. Lots of flags too, Here come the teams.
19.37: You can tell we're playing a proper team for once because the press box is packed. Let's hope all the visiting scribes are heading home disappointed come 10pm.
19.32: Given the quality at his disposal, if Oxford don't get promoted this season someone needs to have a word with their manager Chris Wilder. All five of their subs would walk into most teams in this division.
19.23: TEAM NEWS Martin Ling makes three changes, with Saah, Carden, and Ives coming in for Coulson, Reason, and the injured Willmott. Good to have Carden back for what will certainly be a tough match, the U's skipper is like a midfield comfort blanket.
The big surprise for Oxford is that top scorer James Constable is rested. Our friends from one of the Oxford radio stations tell me he's picked up an ankle-knock. John Grant comes into the starting line up to partner Matt Green for a full debut. Ex-United man Anthony Tonkin is at left back, while former Histon striker Jack Midson is on the bench for the other U's.
19.20: Hello everyone and welcome to the Abbey Stadium for tonight's match with Oxford. Clear skies over Newmarket Road tonight, so it's a great night for football under floodlights. Pitch is looking good too after the recent heavy rain.
