Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris suffers first defeat as Oxford United score late winner through Ciaron Brown

Neil Harris’ unbeaten start as Cambridge United head coach came to an end in the last minute of stoppage time at Oxford United this afternoon.

Harris, who had collected seven points from the first nine on offer since his appointment earlier this month, was forced to field a side without a recognised striker as both Gassan Ahadme and Elias Kachunga joined long-term injury victim Fejiri Okenabirhie on the sidelines.

And yet it looked as though his depleted side had battled their way to a deserved point until the dying embers when they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the Kasaam Stadium.

The only criticism of Cambridge’s first-half performance was that they did not lead by a greater margin than 1-0. They had 11 attempts throughout the opening 45 minutes, though just two of those were on target. Oxford, in contrast, were limited to only three shots overall, with a couple forcing their former goalkeeper Jack Stevens into action.

Against a team that likes to build from the back, the visitors pressed high up the pitch and their bravery was rewarded with numerous turnovers of possession deep in Oxford territory.

That particular scenario played out in the 21st minute when Sullay Kaikai played in George Thomas, who with the angle against him decided to cut the ball back for James Brophy. James Beadle in the Oxford goal had already committed to thwarting Thomas, but Brophy elected to cross rather than shoot and the chance was gone.

The travelling U’s eventually made their bright start count in the 30th minute with the opening goal. Thomas’s inswinging cross from the left was allowed to bounce through to the back post, where Jordan Cousins showed good strength to get in front of Mark Harris and then poke the ball in from close range.

Seven minutes later United carved out a golden chance to double their advantage following some intricate play on the edge of the box by Thomas, Kaikai, Jack Lankester and Danny Andrew. The latter stood up a cross from the edge of the box for an unmarked Brophy, but from six yards out the winger headed inches wide.

Moments later Lankester tried to turn the ball goalwards from inside the six yard box, while Kaikai forced Beadle to dive full stretch down low to his right to keep out his strike from 25 yards out.

Up the other end, Oxford found it tough throughout the half to open up a stubborn United rearguard – and on the one occasion that they did, Stevens was on hand to smother Tyler Goodrham’s effort from point blank range.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first with the away team on the front foot. Thomas was first to try his luck from the edge of the box when his deflected shot left Beadle rooted to the spot, and he would have been thankful to see the ball bobble a yard wide of the target.

Yet, while Thomas’ effort went just the wrong side of the post, Oxford’s Goodrham had no such problems as he levelled up the scoreline in the 54th minute. The winger picked up possession just inside the Cambridge half out wide on the left and drove forward before cutting inside and unleashing a right-footed shot that dipped and swerved on its way into the bottom corner.

The goal signalled a sea change in momentum. Oxford – with their tails up – started to enjoy longer periods of possession inside the United half and it was they that were posing more of the attacking questions.

In the 70th minute midfielder Cameron Branagan strode into United’s half and fired in a low shot that brought the very best out of Stevens, who threw himself down low to his right to keep his side level.

Branagan and Stevens resumed their duel in the 85th minute as Oxford’s number eight struck a deflected free kick that forced the United goalkeeper into a swift change of direction to keep the ball out of his net.

The Oxford pressure continued well into stoppage time and half of the ground thought that they had nicked a late winner when Joe Bennett’s shot looped up off his namesake Liam, but while the net rippled, thankfully for the visitors it was the side netting.

However, just when it appeared that United had weathered the storm, in the fifth minute of time added on Stevens could only parry Ruben Rodrigues’ strike from distance and Ciaron Brown was on hand to bundle the ball over the line.

Oxford United: Beadle, Stevens, Moore, Brown, Bennett, McGuane (McEachran 65’), Brannagan, Mills, Rodrigues, Goodrham, Harris (Henry 80’)

Cambridge United: Stevens, L Bennett, Morrison, Okedina, Andrew, Cousins, Thomas, May (R Bennett 90’), Brophy, Lankester (Haunstrup 80’), Kaikai (Gordon 72’)