Oxford United held to 1-1 draw with Cambridge United

Dembele’s opening goal after a quarter of an hour put Aaron Ramsey’s side into the lead as they hoped for a third consecutive League One victory.

Cambridge equalised in the second half, however, Ben Knight earning a point for Neil Harris’ visiting team.

The Yellows sit in sixth place heading into the international break, four points off top with a game in hand.

An early injury for Jamie McDonnell forced a ninth-minute change with Louie Sibley coming on to replace him.

Fortunes soon turned for Oxford however, with their first shot finding the net.

Michal Helik receives treatment (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Good play from Dembele saw him put a cross in which Cambridge could not deal with, Mark Harris picking up the loose ball and laying it off for the goal scorer who bent the ball into the far corner.

The visitors tried to respond with a wicked strike from the edge of the area through Sullay KaiKai which took a nick and went wide.

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Cambridge began peppering the Yellows’ penalty area with crosses but to no avail before Ramsey’s men found some form.

Dembele remained at the heart of attack, constantly beating his man on the left flank, and put in a good ball to Harris which was cleared only to Sibley who fired at a visiting defender with venom.

Oxford United celebrate against Cambridge (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Harris had a first effort saved which he hit first time, a lengthy first-half stoppage time seeing Michal Helik head a vicious effort away from goal.

An early second-half flick from Harris lacked power and was cleared before an audacious long-range effort from Sam Curtis had Simon Eastwood scrambling but it was off target.

The visitors soon equalised, Peter Kioso getting in the way of an initial shot from Knight before it was recycled, Gassan Ahadme cutting the ball back to the no.10 who slotted into the bottom right corner.

Two more visiting efforts came in from Curtis and Shayne Lavery which were both blocked, the latter then blocking his own teammate as Knight fired at goal from the edge.

A Cathal Heffernan header over broke up two Tyler Goodrham shots, a dig from range and a header both saved well.

Kai Andrews shields the ball (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Sibley saw another shot blocked from Jack Currie’s cross as the game petered out and the two teams settled for a draw.

Oxford: S Eastwood, Kioso (Spencer 70), Helik, Brown, Currie, McDonnell (Sibley 9), Brannagan, Andrews (O’Donkor 58), Missanga (Lynch 58), Harris (Goodrham 70), Dembele

Cambridge: J Eastwood, Perry (Bradshaw 46), Ball, Watts, Moxon (Lavery 55), Knight (Bangura-Williams 86), KaiKai (Heath 76), Ahadme (Appere 86), Heffernan, Mpanzu, Curtis

Bookings: Brannagan; Curtis, Knight, Lavery, Heffernan, Watts