Oxford Utd 3, Ipswich Tn 3 ANDY Thomson ended weeks of personal anguish with a dramatic injury-time equaliser to bring United the very least they deserved from a marvellously entertaining Division 1 game at the Manor Ground on Saturday.

The free transfer signing from Southend at last erased the haunting memory of a dozen or so missed easy chances by nodding in Joey Beauchamp's corner in the second minute of time added on for stoppages.

His perfectly-timed first goal for Oxford robbed Ipswich of their first league win at the Manor after they looked set to steal three points when England B star Kieron Dyer struck with four minutes to go.

Individually and collectively, United were magnificent. They passed the ball well, showed good movement and took the game to Ipswich.

Determined, courageous, skilful, dynamic: they had the lot, and it would have been cruel indeed had they gone away pointless after playing far, far better, for instance, than in their 3-0 win over Portsmouth.

Their spirit was remarkable, considering they had let in three goals at Swindon in their last 20 minutes of football. Forced by injuries to reshuffle his side yet again, Malcolm Shotton pushed Dean Windass up front, where he has asked to play, and reverted to the old tried and trusted central midfield of Martin Gray and David Smith.

Both these moves came off, as did the recall of Dutch defender Brian Wilsterman, who handled James Scowcroft to great effect.

Attacking downhill first half, Nicky Banger was a revelation, Simon Marsh and Paul Powell combined intelligently and United looked very lively.

Banger twice went close to scoring before grabbing the lead from Beauchamp's right-wing corner. Phil Whelan, playing against his old club, backheaded over keeper Richard Wight and Banger rose well to nod in his second goal in a week.

At the other end, the dangerous David Johnson was thwarted by a brave save from Phil Whitehead before double disaster struck the home side just before half-time.

Scowcroft peeled away from the near post to head in a corner by Bobby Petta, the ball narrowly evading Whitehead and a defender on the goalline as it sailed inside the far post.

Then Banger dislocated a collar-bone in falling after chasing a through ball. He went off to a thunderous ovation. Five minutes into the second half, however, United were back in front.

Impressive French defender Manuel Thetis gave away a free-kick with a foul on Windass, and the former Aberdeen striker blasted the kick through Ipswich's defensive wall, the ball flashing past Wright after deflecting off Johnson.

As Ipswich threw men forward, the home side began to find space they have seldom been given this season and played with great panache.

The match became a riveting spectacle. Powell nearly scored after a weaving run, and Windass, spotting the keeper off his line, went close with a David Beckham-like effort from near the halfway line.

Yet against the run of play, Johnson made it 2-2 with a strange goal.

His initial shot from the right was saved by Whitehead, Johnson headed back over the keeper. The ball struck the inside of the post and crossed the line before the keeper and Les Robinson could get back to stop it.

In the last few minutes, Ipswich often had six or seven players supporting their attacks as they seemed determined to break their league duck at the Manor. And they looked to have achieved it when Holland's shot deflected luckily straight to Dyer and he drilled the ball past Whitehead with four minutes remaining.

Only, unlike at Swindon, this Oxford team refused to lie down and Thomson brought a classic match to a fitting conclusion.

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