Pitch one: Oxford United 2 (Forde 30, Agyei 31), Peterborough United 2 (Ward 78, Kanu 85).

Pitch two: Oxford United 2 (Sykes 30p, Winnall 82), Peterborough United 2 (Burrows 21, Hamilton 49p).

A TORRENTIAL downpour capped a surreal afternoon as Oxford United played out two 2-2 draws with Peterborough United.

Thunder and lightning early in the second half of the pre-season fixture caused the games at the U’s training ground to be stopped, although it proved only a quick break.

Anthony Forde and Dan Agyei scored United’s goals on ‘pitch one’, while Mark Sykes and Sam Winnall found the net in the other match.

The U's would have been glad to get through two matches unscathed, after the friendly was postponed by a day so some of their 12 self-isolating players could feature.

Just over half of them made an appearance as the teams shared the spoils, with United now looking ahead to Saturday’s trip to Bristol Rovers and an additional game next Tuesday.

Josh Johnson had another opportunity at the base of midfield on pitch one, where Forde, Elliott Moore, Cameron Brannagan, Agyei and Ryan Williams all returned to the fray.

There was also a first appearance in United colours for Steve Seddon, who played just outside Clinton Nosakhare on the left side of defence.

The pitch two side was dotted with younger players, but there was a first run-out of pre-season for John Mousinho alongside a trialist at centre back.

Karl Robinson had warned before the game that some of United’s self-isolating players would not yet be involved and Sam Long, Billy Bodin, Luke McNally, Leon Chambers-Parillon, Alex Gorrin, Marcus McGuane and Jamie Hanson were all absent.

Surrounded by far more experienced heads, Johnson looked at home from the start and was involved in and out of possession.

Brannagan was typically busy alongside him, the midfielder throwing himself into three challenges one after the other midway through the first half.

By that point Peterborough had gone ahead on pitch two, Harrison Burrows advancing to crash a shot in off the bar from the edge of the area.

Joel Cooper and Tyler Goodrham had started brightly and the latter continued an eye-catching pre-season by winning a penalty on the half-hour.

Sykes scored from the spot, with Anthony Forde putting the pitch one side ahead with a perfectly-executed free-kick moments later.

At this point the only thing raining was goals, as Dan Agyei got in on the act with his second of pre-season.

What a strike it was too, the forward cutting on to his left foot and firing into the roof of the net from 25 yards.

United were in the mood on pitch one, with Seddon getting forward well and making two important interceptions.

Johnson was not afraid to go toe-to-toe with Posh star Sammie Szmodics and the U’s were unlucky not to extend their lead from some good passages of play.

Ethan Hamilton fired home a penalty four minutes after the restart to put Posh 2-1 up on pitch two, before the downpour.

The matches briefly continued, but thunder and lightning meant players and staff had no choice but to run for cover under the training ground pavilion.

The clouds passed just as quickly as they had arrived and there was soon bright sunshine overhead, allowing the games to restart after only ten minutes.

Momentum stalled in both games after the downpour, while more youngsters were given an opportunity.

Gatlin O’Donkor and Adam Smith replaced Matty Taylor and Agyei, with Slavi Spasov and Erion Zabeli replacing Derick Osei and Mousinho on pitch two.

There was still time for another goal rush, although Peterborough will be happier.

Joe Ward dispatched a cut-back to halve the deficit on pitch one, before Idris Kanu slid home at the back post to make it 2-2 with seconds remaining.

Those goals at least sandwiched a United equaliser, as Goodrham’s quick feet and pinpoint cross allowed Winnall to make it 2-2 in the other game.

Oxford United on pitch 1 (4-3-3): Stevens, Forde, Moore, Nosakhare, Seddon, Henry, Johnson, Brannagan, Agyei (Smith 85), Taylor (O’Donkor 81), Williams.

Oxford United on pitch 2 (4-3-3): Eastwood, Watt, Trialist, Mousinho (Zebeli 65), Elechi, Goodrham, Tiamuna, Sykes, Cooper, Winnall, Osei (Spasov 65).