OXFORD 1 COUNTY 1

NEWPORT County AFC produced perhaps their best performance of the season to claim a draw in a thoroughly entertaining contest at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium.

The Exiles led through Lenell John-Lewis’ fifth goal of the season – his fourth in his last six matches – as he curled in a cracker on 43 minutes.

And they could have won it but promotion contenders Oxford got the point they deserved as substitute Pat Hoban struck 17 minutes from the end.

John Sheridan made two changes from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to fellow strugglers Yeovil Town with midfielders Yan Klukowski and Tommy O’Sullivan replacing defender Scott Barrow and striker Zak Ansah.

That meant a switch from 5-3-2 to 4-5-1 as County looked to contain the threat of the home side’s star man Kemar Roofe.

The midfielder, who scored the winner at Rodney Parade on when the sides met on the final day of last season, has been linked with a move to Newcastle United this week.

And he was being watched by fellow Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth, amongst others, last night.

And it was easy to see why the big boys are circling as he took the fight to the County defence in the opening stages, aided by the talents of Liam Sercombe, Danny Hylton and Alex MacDonald.

Goalkeeper Joe Day got down brilliantly to keep out MacDonald’s blasted free-kick inside the opening 10 minutes.

And Hylton then played in MacDonald who twisted and turned and dummied to make space in the area before placing his shot just wide of the far post.

Oxford, who started the evening in second place in the table, were dominating possession and chances and Roofe saw goalbound efforts blocked by first Matt Partridge and then Scot Bennett.

Ryan Taylor also headed over the top as Michael Appleton’s men searched in vain for a goal to break the deadlock.

But the visitors always looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Alex Rodman a real handful down the right flank.

He went down in the box early on but the penalty appeal was waved away by referee Andrew Madley.

And he caused the Oxford defence plenty of problems on the break, winning a free-kick five minutes before the interval with a fine run.

That was wasted to the delight of the home fans but they were soon silenced by John-Lewis’ wonder strike on 43 minutes.

The striker picked up the ball around 30 yards from goal, took aim and curled it sublimely into the corner of Benji Buchel’s net.

It was a goal that came against the run of play but the Exiles always posed a threat and it gave them the perfect platform to soak up more pressure and attempt to hit the U’s on the break again in the second half.

Sure enough, the hosts again dominated the play after the break with Roofe seeing two more efforts blocked as Partridge and Andrew Hughes put themselves in the line of fire.

Sheridan’s men survived an intense period when they were down to 10 men as Bennett received treatment and eventually had to be replaced by Scott Barrow.

That enforced change saw Hughes move into the middle of defence alongside the superb Partridge and the duo dealt with everything that the vaunted Oxford attack threw at them.

And still they continued to look a handful at the other end with John-Lewis battling up top, ably assisted by Rodman and Medy Elito.

But eventually the pressure told 17 minutes from time as substitute Pat Hoban found space in the box, turned his man and fired confidently into the top corner of Day’s net.

Day did superbly to deny Roofe again and then impressive right-back George Baldock.

It looked as if the U’s would have too much for the visitors in the latter stages but County are made of sterner stuff under Sheridan and they deservedly held on for a precious point on the road.

Oxford: Buchel, Baldock, Skarz, Roofe, Mullins, Sercombe, Hylton (O’Dowda, 31), MacDonald, Lundstram, Taylor (Hoban, 46), Dunkley

Subs not used: Slocombe, Rose, Ruffels, Long, George

County: Day, Hughes, Bennett (Barrow, 60), Partridge, Barnum-Bobb, Byrne, Elito, Klukowski (Boden, 77), O’Sullivan (Collins, 75), Rodman, John-Lewis

Subs not used: Green, Holmes, Taylor, Ansah

Booked: Bennett

Referee: Andrew Madley

Attendance: 5,479 (229 County)

Argus star man: Partridge