ANOTHER strong and resilient away performance helped bring Oxford United a second successive goalless draw on their travels tonight.

And the point pushed them closer the play-off positions in League Two.

This first clash in the Football League between the two teams promoted from the Conference last season had an explosive opening, but petered out somewhat in the second half.

But the U's can take great credit for more than matching Graham Westley's side, who were desperate to register a first win in five in the league.

Just as at Gillingham ten days earlier, it needed total commitment from everyone, and total concentration throughout.

The U's hit wood three times before the break, after Stevenage rattled the bar after barely 30 seconds.

Chris Wilder had made four changes to United’s starting line-up, with a very new-looking four-man midfield of Josh Payne and Simon Hackney on the right and left, and Paul McLaren and Simon Clist in the engine room of the centre.

Up front, Tom Craddock returned to partner James Constable.

The last time Kent referee Phil Crossley had taken charge of an Oxford United game was at Yeovil back in 2005.

There was an astonishing start to the match, with the woodwork hit at both ends inside the first two minutes.

Almost straight from the kick-off, Stevenage broke through the middle and striker Craig reid, picking up the ball from deep, smashed a thunderous drive against the bar from 25 yards.

The woodwork was still reverberating from that exocet when United broke down the other end and Tom Craddock cut in from the right, beating his marker, and rifled a shot past keeper Chris Day, only to see it come back off the inside of the far post.

These two teams have always prided themselves in being among the fittest around, and that was evident in the early stages.

Even though it was a high-tempo opening, and 100 miles per hour, players still raced over to take free-kicks and get in position at lightning speed.

Ryan Clarke had to be brave when he came out to punch under pressure, and also when Michael Bridges went in hard for a 50-50 ball and slid along the greasy surface into him, studs-first.

Constable met a right-wing cross on the volley from 16 yards, and his shot looked to have taken a deflection on its way to grazing the outside of the right post.

It seemed more like American Football or Ice Hockey as Stevenage took a deliberate time out midway through the first half to get instructions from their coaching staff.

Lawrie Wilson went down, clutching his foot and rolled over on the ground, and when the ref whistled for the physio to come on, all the other Stevenage players, bar the keeper, raced over to the dug-out area like well-drilled marines.

Chris Wilder, in the opposite dug-out, laughed and made a T sign with his hands. He knew what they were doing.

United were incensed moments later when Jon Ashton cynically blocked off Jake Wright as he tried to track a runner going wide.

Ben May escaped with a yellow card for a cynical foul on Wright, and McLaren joined him in the ref’s notebook as tackles continued to fly in and tempers became frayed in the run-up to half-time.

Craddock hit the post again when, having switched flanks with Hackney, he cut in from the left and saw his low shot beat Day, but strike the outside of the left upright.

Stevenage players were pushing and shoving each other, and arguing furiously, as they came off at half-time, and the Oxford fans let them know what they thought of Graham Westley’s team.

U’s supporters were present in large numbers, many no doubt keeping their ticket from the postponed Boxing Day fixture, and they made plenty of noise.

Hackney tested keeper Day with a decent drive from a central position.

Wright came to United’s rescue by clearing off the line after a cross-shot passed beyond Clarke.

The intensity of the contest died slightly during a scrappy period of play, but that ended when some excellent closing down by the front three forced Stevenage to turn over possession, and McLaren almost threaded the perfect through ball to Hackney.

Chances were much more at a premium in the second half.

Stevenage substitute Rob Sinclair hooked a shot over the bar when he found half a yard in the box.

Jack Midson came on for the last 11 minutes and made his presence felt.

Scott Laird was yellow-carded for scything him down, and when the resulting free-kick came over, Midson glanced a header wide.