Hereford put in an encouraging performance against a predominantly first choice Oxford side at Edgar Street on Tuesday and a cracking goal from Ian Rodgerson ensured a draw.

It was a vast improvement on Saturday's lack-lustre showing against Aston Villa and the 80th-minute equaliser from experienced midfielder Rodgerson deservedly cancelled out a header from Ian McGuckin four minutes earlier.

On-trial Cardiff City striker Dai Young impressed in his first game for the Bulls and, with his solid, old-fashioned centre-forward stature, he may be just what boss Graham Turner needs for the physical world of the Nationwide Conference.

The first half started in sluggish style, but Hereford had what few early chances there were and gradually began to dominate the opening 45 minutes.

Front man Craig Hanson curled an effort wide of keeper Jimmy Glass' goal as early as the fourth minute and eight minutes later it was Young's turn to go close.

Gavin Williams ingeniously shook off his marker with a clever flick and crossed to Young, who got up well, but put his looped header just wide of the top corner.

John Snape nearly gifted The U's an equaliser after 35 minutes with a back pass which could only be described as awful, but ex-West Ham striker Manny Omoyinmi shot weakly at Scott Cooksey when clean through.

Seven minutes later a poor goal-kick from Glass, moments after he lost a boot attempting to fire the ball up field, led to Young producing a speculative 35-yard effort which came close to embarrassing the Oxford keeper.

Tony James, on his return from injury, headed over a good cross in the centre of the box from Rodgerson three minutes after the break and within six minutes Young troubled Glass again with a powerful volley from 12 yards.

Keeper Richard Barnard, from Millwall, replaced Cooksey on 73 minutes and his first major task was to pick the ball out of the net after he failed to come for a Joey Beauchamp corner and McGuckin capitalised on a free header from eight yards.

However, Rodgerson, who looked lively throughout, made amends with a precision-placed shot from 20 yards which left Glass rooted to the spot, following a well-worked free kick involving substitute Michael McIndoe.

Hereford: Cooksey (Barnard 73 mins), Clarke (Shirley 73 mins), Sturgess (Gardiner 46 mins), Robinson, Wright (Lane 62 mins), James, Rodgerson, Snape, Thomas, Hanson (Elmes 62 mins), Williams (McIndoe 62 mins). Subs not used: Beale, Pitt.

Oxford: Glass, Robertson, Powell, Whitehead (Jarman 62 mins), Davis, McGuckin, Lilley, Tait (Folland 77 mins), Weatherstone (Anthrobus 62 mins), Omoyinmi (Cook 77 mins), Beauchamp (McGowan 84 mins). Subs not used: Knight.

Referee: M Forder (Hereford).

Attendance: 864.