A SUPERB penalty save by Billy Turley couldn't lift Oxford United enough to get the win they desperately needed at KitKat Crescent last night.

The U's were held goalless by a York side desperate for points at the other end of the table, and it leaves Chris Wilder's men now with very slim chances of making the play-offs.

York had not scored for four games before this match, and having dropped into the Blue Square Premier's bottom four, they were battling for their lives.

They had the better of the game, but Oxford defended resolutely, while finding it hard to carve out shooting opportunities at the other end.

Adam Chapman had one difficult opportunity 11 minutes from the end, and hit a 22-yard volley with great technique, but it was straight at goalkeeper Michael Ingham.

And with virtually the last kick of the match, deep into stoppage time, James Constable struck a left-foot volley against the bar.

The 27th-minute penalty was awarded for handball by Damian Batt just inside the area when Simon Brown crossed from the left, with many United players feeling the offence had occured just outside the box.

Onome Sodje struck the penalty well enough but Turley, guessing correctly, dived low to his right to save, and when the ball ran free, Daniel McBreen fired it back in hard, only for Kevin Sandwith to block on the line.

In the second before the penalty, Sandwith had made a great recovery challenge after Sodje got goalside of him.

Adam Murray and Adam Chapman were both booked for dissent as they argued about the penalty decision.

York had a couple of off-target efforts in the opening skirmishes, when there was great amusement for the spectators as one of the sprinklers in the York goalmouth suddenly went off, causing a five-minute stoppage in the game.

A stadium official managed to locate which sprinkler it was and turn it off, but only after inadvertently turning on another sprinkler which left two visiting pitchside photographers soaked.

Constable created the game's first real chance with a determined and positive run, getting around the back of left back Mark Robinson, and then backheeling the ball for Simon Clist, whose left-foot shot was well saved by keeper Michael Ingham.

The Minstermen were getting a lot of joy down their right, where Adam Boyes would often link with Sodje, and Boyes got past Sandwith just before half-time for a shot on goal. Once again, however, Turley came to the rescue with a smart low save.

The U's seemed to be having difficulty in stringing passes together with York, fighting for their Conference survival, closing down quickly and denying space.

At the start of the second half, that man Sodje again proved a danger, coming in beyond the far post but side-footing just wide.

The home side, now attacking towards their own fans, had s spell of pressure, but United, and Turley, withstood it.

And just before the hour, Chris Wilder sent on Yemi Odubade to give Constable some support up front.

Turley made another excellent save when Boyes hit a close-range shot midway through the half, parrying it away to his left and then diving on the loose ball with an agility that belied his 36 years of age.

The visitors, in going for the win, were becoming increasingly stretched at the back and Luke Foster was on one occasion guilty of letting a high ball bounce, instead of nodding it back to Turley. He got away with it because Adam Boyes screwed his shot across the face of the goal.

In the closing moments, both sides desperately pressed for a winner, and Chapman struck another great volley, this time with his left foot, which arrowed just past the far post.

As a last desperate throw of the dice, Eddie Hutchinson was sent on up front, and he won a couple of useful headers.

And in stoppage time, Haldane blocked a sot on the line as it ended in stalemate.