ACCRINGTON STANLEY – 2

OXFORD UNITED – 2

OFFRANDE Zanzala came off the bench to earn Accrington Stanley a point against play-off hopefuls Oxford United.

Stanley twice came from behind as Tariqe Fosu put Oxford in front before Jordan Clark equalised.

A fantastic Cameron Brannagan goal put the visitors back in front, but Zanzala slotted brilliantly for the point.

The game started evenly as both sides looked to pass it around and get a feel for each other.

Liverpool loanee, Ben Woodburn, had to be replaced after 12 minutes following a strong, but fair challenge by Callum Johnson.

As Oxford pushed on and looked to create chances, Tariqe Fosu looked to be running through on goal, but a fantastically timed Jerome Opoku challenge stopped the winger in his tracks.

Fosu opened the scoring in the match as he picked the ball up on the left side of the pitch, turned inside and skipped past multiple Stanley players to fire off the post into the bottom corner.

It was the former Stanley loanee’s sixth goal of the season.

Goal scorer Fosu was causing the Stanley backline all kinds of problems in the first half and he had a free kick well saved by the diving Dimitar Evtimov.

Things at the end of the opening period got a little heated with Opoku and James Henry looking a bit fortunate not to be sent for an early shower.

The pair challenged for the ball which resulted in a scuffle on the touchline – both received yellow cards.

On the hour mark, Stanley were level through Clark.

Joe Pritchard’s free-kick saw Ross Sykes beat Simon Eastwood to the ball and that left Clark to head into the empty net.

That goal was the first Oxford have conceded in five matches.

Minutes later, Sam Finley drove forward and unleashed a powerful drive with came off the inside of the post.

With 20 minute left in the match, Brannagan fired Oxford into the lead once again with a superb strike from 25 yards – it left Evtimov with no chance.

After coming in for lots of praise of late, Zanzala, a half-time substitute, repaid the faith John Coleman has in him and slotted his side level from the edge of the 18-yard box with 15 minutes remaining.

Stanley XI: Evtimov, Johnson, Hughes, Sykes, Opoku, Clark, Conneely, Finley, Pritchard, Charles (45’ Zanzala), Bishop

Unused subs: Bursik, Edwards, Sherif, Alese, Diallo

Oxford XI: Eastwood, Cadden, Ruffels, Dickie, Brannagan, Woodburn (12’ Forde) (41’ Gorrin), Fosu, Mousinho, Baptiste, Henry, Mackie (77’ Taylor)

Unused subs: Stevens, Moore, Hall, Long