Oxford United drew their third game in a row when a Mark Harris goal earned them a point in an evenly matched game at Blackpool.
Set pieces proved key as a Matt Pennington opener was quickly cancelled out by Harris's close-range finish to leave two play-off chasing sides locked at 1-1.
The early exchanges saw the lively Karamoko Dembele curl a shot wide after 12 minutes and the excellent Ciaron Brown have to make an important challenge as Shayne Lavery advanced into the box. However, we didn’t have to wait too long before corners at both ends produced a goal apiece.
Blackpool’s was delivered to the back post by Albie Morgan, the ball was volleyed back across the face of goal by captain Ollie Nortburn and Pennington nodded it beyond the grasp of the stranded Jamie Cumming to make it 1-0.
Need an immediate response? Call Mark Harris. A corner by Cameron Brannagan was met by the centre of the returning Sam Long's bandaged forehead and Harris seized on the dropping ball to level at 1-1. Thirteen goals for the Welsh striker this season, seven in the last nine games since the turn of the year.
Only a miraculous block by former Oxford youth team defender Marvin Ekpiteta prevented Harris from putting his side ahead after 33 minutes as a magnificent pass from Ruben Rodrigues sprung the team forward and Marcus McGuane squared the ball, only for Harris’s effort to be cleared off the line by Ekpiteta’s face.
Josh Murphy made his return at the break, a straight swap for Tyler Burey on the right wing, and Will Goodwin was given half an hour as a debut up front as United signalled their attacking intent and the game became very end to end very early.
Jamie Cumming made an astonishing save on his return to the side to claw away a Pennington header and then clutched three more straightforward efforts to his chest, while Cameron Brannagan was off target with a long-range effort before sub Billy Bodin had the perfect chance to win it, stooping to head at an unguarded goal but only able to guide the dipping ball onto the post.
Fine margins once again, but a useful point on the road plus cameos from Goodwin, Murphy, Bodin and Jay Matete. So, take those positives and move forward to a home game against Wigan on Tuesday.
See you there.
Att: 10,485 including 1,024 away
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds and Darrell Fisher