Oxford United's season WILL go down to the wire.

Those fans who had their prayer mats out last night were put through the emotional wringer as the scores came in up and down the country – but crucially, one of the three results they were depending on did go their way.

Barrow managed to get a 1-1 draw against Torquay, and it means Chris Wilder's team's play-off dream is still alive.

The teams United have to try to overhaul on a highly-charged last day of the season on Sunday are Torquay and Kidderminster.

If they can beat Northwich Victoria in their final game at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday, and Torquay are beaten by table-topping Burton at Plainmoor, and Kidderminster fail to beat Kettering at Aggborough, Oxford will make it.

There are many reasons to believe it is possible.

Burton need a point to clinch promotion, while Torquay cannot rely on just a draw because they can be caught and overtaken by Kidderminster if they do that.

And although Harriers will be favourites to beat Kettering at home, the Poppies are a strong defensive outfit.

It all looked to be going so well at half-time last night with Barrow leading Torquay thanks to a 12th-minute goal from Jason Walker, and Justin Richards, the former United striker, equalising for Kidderminster to make it 1-1 at Stevenage.

But as the second halves unfolded, and first Chris Hargreaves, the ex-U's skipper, levelled for the Gulls, and then Lee Boylan bagged a brace to put Stevenage 3-1 up, United fans were contemplating the possibility of their season being over.

One more Torquay goal and that would have been the case.

But Barrow held on, to guarantee they avoid the drop, and although Histon completed their expected win over Weymouth, it has left most of the top teams with it all to play for on the final day.

Wilder said: "It's all we could ask for. We're there, we're fighting in there and we've given ourselves a chance.

"If we do our job properly, I know Kidderminster will find Kettering will be competitive against them, and obviously Burton are going to be competitive for Torquay.

"Kidderminster have taken a bit of a beating at Stevenage and they've played a lot of games lately. Have they hit a wall? I don't know."