OXFORD United drew 1-1 at home to Reading in the first ever league derby played between the sides at Grenoble Road.

Mark Harris gave United the lead just after the half hour mark, when he turned in Cameron Brannagan’s cross, however a Ciaron Brown own goal with 14 minutes to go ensured the points were shared.

Des Buckingham was forced into two changes to the side which rescued a late point at home to Portsmouth, with Simon Eastwood and Stephan Negru replacing the injured Jamie Cumming and Fin Stevens.

There were places on the bench for deadline day recruits Jay Matete and Owen Dale, plus young goalkeeper Monty Marriott.

The game took a while to get going, with both sides sussing each other out in the opening exchanges.

Just before quarter of an hour had been played, Tyler Goodrham worked his way into the penalty box, but was unable to pick out Harris in the centre.

A shooting opportunity was presented to Lewis Wing after 20 minutes, following good play on the left by the visitors, however the midfielder arced his shot over Eastwood’s crossbar.

With just after half an hour played, United took the lead in the match.

Tyler Burey floated a cross beyond the back post, where Brannagan kept the move alive, and squeezed the ball across for Harris, who was left with a simple tap-in past David Button in the Royals goal.

United had one more opportunity before the first half drew to a close, when Ruben Rodrigues shot from right of centre, and 20 yards out, however Button was able to claim the effort and scoop it into his arms.

The second period started in a livelier fashion compared to the first half, with both sides getting into good areas, but without having a true sniff of goal.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Femi Azeez bought himself a pocket of space in the left channel of the penalty area, but sent his shot wide of Eastwood’s near post.

At the other end, a Marcus McGuane strike from the edge of the box was deflected over, however the U’s were unable to capitalise from the corner.

Buckingham made his first switch with 68 minutes on the clock, bringing Dale on for Burey in a like-for-like change down United’s right-hand side.

Dale won a free kick in the corner almost immediately after coming on, with the set piece cleared and falling to McGuane, whose attempt from the edge of the box was held by Button.

With 14 minutes to go, substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan raced down the left past Negru, with his dangerous cross converted into his own net by Brown.

Buckingham then made his second substitution, as Gatlin O’Donkor replaced Goodrham. The change meant Harris moved out to the right, with Dale on the left and O’Donkor through the middle.

The Royals though were the team on top, with a dipping effort from Wing held by Eastwood, as the away side put United under a spell of pressure.

Rodrigues though rolled his man at the other end, before unleashing a stinging effort which Button could only push away.

Matete made his debut late on, as he replaced McGuane, shortly before four minutes of stoppage time were signalled.

Neither side was able to find a late winner, as the teams shared a second 1-1 draw of the season.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Eastwood; Negru, Moore, Brown, Leigh; McGuane (Matete 89), Brannagan; Burey (Dale 68), Rodrigues, Goodrham (O’Donkor 79); Harris.

Unused subs: Marriott, Thorniley, McEachran, Henry.

Booked: Goodrham.

Reading (4-1-4-1): Button; Yiadom, Mbengue, Bindon, Dorsett (Mola 74); Craig (Savage 74); Azeez (Elliott 87), Wing, Knibbs, Mukairu (Ehibhatiomhan 74); Smith.

Unused subs: Pereira, Abrefa, Rushesha.

Booked: Craig, Yiadom, Azeez.

Referee: Scott Oldham (Lancashire)

Attendance: 10,897 (1,475 visitors).