MARK Sykes says he is enjoying life on and off the pitch as he continued his goalscoring form to secure a draw with Cheltenham Town.

The Oxford United midfielder equalised eight minutes from the end of the Sky Bet League One clash to find the net for the fourth time in five matches.

It earned the U’s a 1-1 draw in the New Year’s Day clash at the Kassam Stadium on an afternoon when they struggled to find their rhythm.

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Matty Taylor missed a first-half penalty, before Callum Wright put the visitors ahead three minutes after the break following Sykes’ miscued clearance.

The Irishman redeemed himself with his eighth goal of a prolific season and he was relieved to make the difference.

“It was my fault for their goal, so I needed to make up for it,” Sykes said.

“It wasn’t one of my better games and I don’t mind saying that.

“The goals cover up your game in a way.

“That was the problem last year when I wasn’t scoring, I could have been unbelievable for five or six weeks and no-one would have said a word because I hadn’t scored.

“Goals are the most important thing and they’re coming for me at the moment.”

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United were sluggish for most of the afternoon, but Gavin Whyte’s introduction from the bench gave them a much-needed spark.

The Northern Ireland international provided the cross for the equaliser, his fourth assist in three games.

Whyte and Sykes have known each other since they were both playing in Northern Ireland and the goalscorer loves lining up alongside his close friend.

He said: “I’ve known him for a long time, we never played for the same club team but played against each other and we’re really good friends.

“When you know you’ve got a friend from back home on the pitch you strike up a good relationship.

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“Especially in the Wimbledon game (on Wednesday), I thought we played really well together and I was in the right place for him.”

Sykes has had more reasons to celebrate off the pitch, after recently passing his driving test at the second attempt.

To illustrate how things are falling for him right now, the 24-year-old revealed being a United player opens doors.

He said: “I failed my first one and then luckily the driving instructor is an Oxford fan, so he gave me his son’s driving test which was four or five weeks later.

“I probably would have had to wait six months.

“I got lucky on that one. Maybe that’s the good thing about being an Oxford United player, you get a couple of good deals.”

Sykes added: “I needed to pass big time, because I’ve got a family now.

“When I lived in Belfast everything was done for me – my family drove and I lived in the city centre.

“Living out in the countryside now I needed to drive and it helped me out.

“I had my little girl a year and a half ago, so times have definitely changed for me.

“When I came here I’d just met my partner a couple of months before and I lived on my own.

“She moved over and we’ve had a little girl, I’m driving and I’m doing well at the club, so all is well for me.”