OXFORD might be a famed centre for learning but York City proved they needed no lessons from their hosts on the art of defending last night with a determined display at the Kassam Stadium.

Ian Atkins' men have conceded fewer goals than any other Division Three side this season but the Minstermen matched their mean promotion-chasing opponents in that department and, in doing so, became only the third team - after Bristol Rovers and Lincoln - to prevent Oxford from scoring a league goal at the Kassam Stadium in 2003/2004.

The Us are one of only three English sides to still boast an unbeaten home record in the Premiership and Nationwide League this season and, if Stuart Wise's first-half header had crashed into the back of the net and not against the crossbar, then Arsenal and QPR could have been left alone as the proud owners of that particular statistic this morning.

Admittedly, Oxford did rattle City's woodwork FOUR times in the second half including a hat-trick of headers from giant target man Julian Alsop but the visitors deserved their belated slice of luck.

The recalled Wise formed a solid three-man defensive back-line alongside manager Chris Brass and teenager Sean Davies, who continues to impress.

Wise and Brass' brave and no-nonsense approach was complimented by Davies, whose reading of the game suggests a maturity beyond his youthful years.

Brass barked out orders throughout, shouting himself hoarse in an exemplary performance that was the perfect way to sign off before he starts his four-match ban.

And whenever City's impressive trio was breached and the woodwork did not come to their rescue then agile goalkeeper Mark Ovendale proved once more what an excellent signing he has been after being discarded by Luton at the end of last season.

The 30-year-old stopper displayed the reflexes of a world champion featherweight boxer to make three instinctive saves and safeguard City's point.

Wise, making his first start since September, was one of six changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Boston with on-loan Sunderland midfielder Jonjo Dickman making his debut and Leigh Wood beginning a game for the first time since October.

Mitch Ward, Justin Walker and David Merris also earned recalls and the team's youthful energy was augmented by an experienced backbone of Brass, Ward and Lee Nogan.

Lee Bullock, playing as a striker again with Lev Yalcin rested, also enjoyed his best display in recent weeks, working tirelessly, holding the ball up and competing brilliantly in the air to perhaps bring different facets of his game to the attention of watching Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence.

Oxford started the game strongly although Alsop's wild 30-yard effort after seven minutes bounced off two vehicles in the car park behind Ovendale's goal rather than troubling City's goalkeeper.

But Ovendale was called into action four minutes later, brilliantly palming over Lee Steele's shot on the turn after Matt Robinson had charged past Wood on the left flank and crossed on to the head of Alsop.

Wise then charged bravely at Ward's free kick from the right to send a thudding header against Andy Woodman's crossbar on 17 minutes.

Bullock was first to the rebound but the ball bounced off his shin and rolled wide.

Alsop continued to be an aerial threat and, four minutes after the break, headed against the bar from six yards.

But City, having adopted a cautious approach in the first half against their unbeaten hosts, had started the second period with greater self-belief and more adventure and only a timely intervention by Robinson prevented Wood from scoring from a low Merris cross.

Dickman's edge-of-the-area volley then just missed the top corner from the resulting flag kick and Ward saw a 25-yard drive narrowly clear the crossbar moments later.

Ovendale was busy again on 66 minutes when he kept out a stinging drive from on-loan Coventry midfielder Barry Quinn and then reacted brilliantly to stop Alsop's close-range shot on the turn.

Alsop and Mark Rawle both headed against the bar in immediate succession on 82 minutes with Ovendale getting a crucial hand to the latter's effort.

At the other end, a strong run by Merris ended with a right-footed shot that was unconvincingly pushed around his post by a scrambling Woodman.

Brass also introduced non-contract striker Andy Bell on 86 minutes and the former Wycombe forward managed to make an instant impression, executing a strong tackle, shielding the ball expertly, heading across the six-yard box and delivering a dangerous low cross.

But it was Oxford that went closest to grabbing maximum points with Paul McCarthy stooping low to head narrowly wide and Alsop finding the top of a post in the third and final minute of stoppage time.

York City 0; Oxford United 0

Ovendale 9, Wise 8, Brass 8, Davies 8 (Smith 76), Wood 7, Walker 7, Ward 7, Dickman 7 (Cooper 71), Merris 7, Bullock 8, Nogan 7 (Bell 86), Subs not used: Yalcin, Porter

Key: 10 Faultless, 9 Outstanding, 8 Excellent, 7 Eye-catching, 6 Good, 5 Average, 4 Below-par, 3 Dud, 2 Hopeless, 1 Retire

Star Man: Mark Ovendale - Three excellent saves provided the polish on a shining defensive display.

Oxford: Woodmn, McCarthy, Crosby, Bound, McNiven (Hackett 70), Hunt Quinn (Waterman 84(, Whitehhead, Robinson, Alsop,Steele (Rawle 48) Subs (unused): Scott, Ashton.

Yellow cards: Dicklamn 41, Ovendale 90

Red cards: None

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)

Rating:No complaints. Let game flow and made few mistakes.

Attendance: 5,091

Weather watch: Constant drizzle

Game breaker: When Alsop and Rawle's successive headers came back off the crossbar a point seemed City's destiny

Match rating:Entertaining 0-0 draw with a nail-biting finale.

Updated: 10:04 Thursday, March 04, 2004