Oxford 0
Harriers 0

KEEPER Dean Coleman made an impressive return to the starting line-up as battling Harriers took a well-deserved point from the Kassam Stadium.

Coleman was back in the side after missing the last two games but a string of fine saves and a brilliant defensive performance by the visitors overall kept the Blue Square Premier title-chasers at bay.

Harriers also demonstrated they are capable of opening up the meanest of defences and in an impressive first half of counter-attacking football, could have scored against the U's.

Coleman was one of three changes to the side that saw off Worcester in the FA Trophy. He replaced Jasbir Singh in goal, who was relegated to the bench.

Robbie Matthews, back after a two-game absence, was Harriers' loan front man, with Damian Spencer poised as a substitute.

Winger Marc Goodfellow was also making his debut for the Aggborough outfit at the expense of striker Aaron Farrell, who was not included at all in the squad.

Harriers almost paid the price for a slow start inside the first minute, but winger Alfie Potter shot wide.

But after weathering the Oxford storm, Harriers started to carve out useful chances on the break.

Goodfellow signalled the away side's attacking intent when he fired a 20-yard effort just off target.

A good opportunity went to waste in the 15th minute when Goodfellow's pass to Brian Smikle deflected behind on a lightning raid.

Matthews could have fired Harriers into the lead when Lee Baker delivered a good low cross from the left but the tall hitman mis-hit his effort wide.

Former Harriers hitman James Constable was doing his best to catch out the away defence, but he had a claim for a penalty ignored by the referee after he was blocked by Duane Courtney and Gavin Caines.

Oxford probed for a goal without creating a host of chances and centreback Rhys Day saw an effort fly wide.

Good work by Smikle set up Goodfellow and his low shot forced a fine save from former Harriers keeper Ryan Clarke.

A frustrated Constable was shown a yellow card for a shove on left-back Lee Baker, who needed a new shirt because of a bloody nose.

Former Harriers keeper Clarke denied Goodfellow again as Harriers pressed.

Defender Martin Riley then did enough to put off Constable as he tried to meet Jamie Cook's low cross. Despite remonstrations by the striker for a penalty, the referee blew for a goal-kick.

In the second half, the away side were pressed back and Constable would have scored, if not for the heroics of defender Duane Courtney.

Sam Deering had sped past Riley in the 47th minute and pulled the ball back to the striker, but as he tried to pull the trigger the right-back made a timely intervention.

Harriers were on the back foot as Oxford piled on the pressure but they stood firm.

Constable then saw an effort fly wide, as Dean Coleman became the busier keeper.

The former Walsall shot-stopper made two saves to deny Deering in the space of 60 seconds, before tipping over Simon Clist's free-kick.

Coleman also denied Oxford substitute Jack Midson, who could have scored moments after coming on in the 74th minute.

To their credit, Harriers battled away and substitute hitman Damian Spencer was denied by the fortunate Clarke.

Spencer raced onto Smikle's pass and looked as though his close-range effort had the keeper beaten, only for him to fall backwards and block the ball.

Harriers survived a scary moment when miscommunication by Riley and Coleman allowed Midson a sight of an open goal but he shot wide.

Spencer and Dannie Bulman were also shown yellow cards after both sets out players got involved in a punch-up in the game's dying minutes.

But Harriers survived a testing second half to earn a point and become one of the few sides not to lose over two matches to Oxford.

The draw also served as an entertaining dress rehearshal to the FA Trophy quarter-final at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday, February 20.

Harriers: Coleman 8; Courtney 8; Caines 8; Riley 9; Baker 8; Goodfellow 8 (Knights, 85); McPhee 7; Finnigan 7; Bennett 7; Smikle 7; Matthews 7(Spencer, 74). Unused substitutes: Singh; Hadley; Sharpe.

Oxford: Clarke; Batt; Day; Wright; Tonkin; Bulman; Clist (Midson, 74); Deering; Constable; Potter (Hargreaves, 58); Cook (Green, 58). Unused substitutes: Turley; Creighton.

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Attendance: 5,802 (167)