Oxford United manager Jim Smith said Saturday's opponents Altrincham didn't earn the point they got - they had it handed to them by the referee.

The U's boss was seething about the late penalty awarded against John Dempster for an off-the-ball push on Pat McFadden.

Stephen Aspinall converted the 86th-minute penalty to give the Cheshire side a 1-1 draw in one of the most one-sided matches seen at the ground.

But for all their dominance, United struggled to put the ball in the net, and had to rely on another long-range blast from defender Matt Day.

Smith believed the spot-kick decision was all the more astonishing after Yemi Odubade was barged over onto the tarmac track beyond the touchline, and after Rob Duffy ( pictured ) had a penalty appeal turned down.

"They were never going to get a draw, the ref gave them a draw," Smith said after- wards.

"I just saw Billy (Turley) go to collect the ball and then the penalty was given.

"John did say he put his hands up, but the ball was somewhere else.

"It was a really amazing decision compared to when Yemi was put out on the track, or when Rob was pushed over in the box.

"Even if the ref didn't see that one, surely his assistant must have seen it."

One fan described it as a 1-1 massacre.

But it's now four points United have squandered in their last two games.

Their lead at the top of the Conference was cut to two points after second-placed Dagenham & Redbridge triumphed 2-1 at Stevenage.

Smith said: "We've missed a lot of goals this season but we've missed more today than all season.

"I think we should have been comfortably 5-0 up at half-time.

"I was disappointed that when we went one up, we didn't go on. We sat off and were too casual on a few occasions. We were just too casual in front of goal. It's a massive two points lost."

Surrendering two points took the gloss off two records United created.

Their 16-game unbeaten run is now the best start to the season ever in the Conference, beating Kettering's previous best of 1990-91.

And it's also the club's longest unbeaten start to a season.

But Cambridge away this Friday represents one of their biggest challenges to date, especially as they will be without the suspended Duffy.

Smith gave Odubade a rare start with Steve Basham still nursing an injury, and although the former Eastbourne Borough frontman didn't score, the U's manager felt he did OK.

"Yemi kept the ball well, I was pleased with that," he said.

"I didn't expect anything else from Dagenham than a win at Stevenage because Stevenage have had a poor start to the season.

"But I did expect us to win. I was very disappointed with our performance in the final third. We had plenty of opportunities where we didn't even make the keeper save.

"Weeks ago they said we were home and hosed, but we're certainly not because there's only two points between us."

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