Home draw deflects from Adams’ return

There was no dream return for Jon Adams on Saturday as a resolute Oxford side extended Brakes’ winless sequence to six games.

Making his second debut after joining from AFC Telford on a short-term loan, Adams showed Brakes fans he had lost none of the qualities which made him such a favourite first time around.

However, left isolated on the right-hand side of the midfield for much of the first half, he was often a peripheral figure.

It was only when given a freer role after the break that he begin to assert his influence on the game, linking up well with the impressive Richard Batchelor, who had one of his best games in a gold and black shirt.

But despite all Adams’ probing, it was the reliable left boot of Stephan Morley which produced the home side’s only goal of the game, with the defender’s fierce free-kick giving visiting keeper Jason Mooney no chance.

Either side of Morley’s equaliser, the towering presence of 6ft 9in Mooney had kept a much-improved Leamington at bay, but that will have been of little comfort to Paul Holleran, who once again saw his side slip out of the play-off places.

Buoyed by the presence of Adams, Leamington started the game on the front foot and Luke Corbett had two efforts on goal before Michael Tuohy brought the first real save out of Mooney with a 20-yard effort which the keeper pushed out at full stretch.

Young referee Adam Fileding’s good advantage allowed Brakes to work the ball to the edge of the box where Corbett was only narrowly off target with his curled effort.

Mooney then produced a stunning point-blank save to deny Asa Charlton after the centre-back had latched on to Liam Daly’s knock-down eight yards out.

Little had been seen of Oxford as an attacking threat up to this point, despite the willing running of lone frontman Oliver Taylor.

However, a five-minute spell gave notice of their threat, with Charlton having to be alert to head clear a dangerous cross and Morley coming to the rescue of Jimmy Husband after his miscued clearance looked goalbound.

Reece Fleet then saw Nathan Vaughan produce a strong parry after being afforded far too much time and space on the edge of the Leamington box.

Husband left the fray moments later after picking up and eye injury to be replaced by Alex Taylor.

With the game drifting towards half-time, Oxford took the lead.

Morley was caught in possession and despite a superb tackle from Charlton denying Taylor, the ball ran free to Pablo Haysham whose shot deflected over Vaughan and into the net.

With something to protect, the visitors sat back at the start of the second period and Brakes were almost level in the 48th minute.

An intricate build-up on the right involving Adams and Corbett set Batchelor free on the angle of the six-yard box. The midfielder’s prodded effort looked certain to restore parity, but Mooney produced a strong hand to divert the ball across the face of goal.

Batchelor again showed good strength to work his way to the byline, but his dangerous cross was bundled clear as the City defence put their bodies on the line.

Fleet was booked in the 61st minute for a rash challenge on Morley, but the left-back showed no ill-effects three minutes later with Brakes’ equaliser.

Corbett went down under minimal contact on the edge of the box and Morley stepped up to rifle the ball past the wall and into the far corner.

Vaughan had to be at his best to stop Oxford quickly re-establishing their lead, tipping over Haysham’s well-struck shot after Daly had been turned inside out, while Corbett was aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty after going down in the box under the challenge of two defenders.

Morley had a chance to repeat his earlier free-kick heroics from the opposite side of the area, but this time he sent his effort well over and at the other end Vaughan had to be alert to deny City substitute Mark Bell.

It was Brakes who looked the more likely of the two sides to snatch all three points, though.

However, despite penning the visitors back in their own half for the the closing stages, a Jacob Blyth strike which was deflected past the post was the nearest they came to ushering in the new Adams era with a win.

Brakes: Nathan Vaughan, Michael Tuohy, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Liam Daly, Asa Charlton, Jon Adams, James Husband (16 Alex Taylor, 40), Jacob Blyth, Luke Corbett (David Kolodynski, 84), Richard Batchelor.Subs not used: James Mace, Craig Owen, Sam Adkins.

Oxford City: Jason Mooney, James Clarke, Adam Learoyd, Andy Ballard, Reece Fleet, Chris Wilmott, Liam Malone, Declan Benjamin, Oliver Taylor (Mark Bell, 65), Pablo Haysham, Marvin Martin. Subs not used: Wayne Blossom, Zac McEachran.