York City have still to savour two wins on the bounce this season but they could not have come much closer to righting that wrong than they did on Saturday.

Seven minutes was all that separated the Minstermen from another three-point haul after a richly entertaining game that saw both sets of supporters surfing the full range of emotions.

As fortunate as Oxford's late leveller was, of even more disappointment was the fact City were enjoying their most controlled and dominant spell of the afternoon when Jamie Brooks bagged his second of the game.

If any team looked like scoring then it was City and certainly United had looked a team spent and accepting too of their fate.

But in the cold light of day City should not be too disappointed.

City had enjoyed their fair share of luck, particularly with Michael Proctor's goal that had edged the Minstermen in front for a second time, and were grateful for a hat-trick of fine saves from goalkeeper Alan Fettis for keeping their noses in front at half-time.

A draw then was perhaps the fairest of results after a game neither side really deserved to lose if not necessarily win.

City would not have been unhappy with their first-half performance even though for long spells they were forced to chase possesion rather than cherish it.

And although they erred on the side of caution and were bitty rather than convincing, there was little doubt about the quality of Lee Nogan's 15th-minute opener.

Chris Brass, back to something like his bustling best in midfield, won possession from Manny Omoyinmi on the half-way line and released Proctor down the right.

Brass gave his support and from his team-mate's return pass picked out Nogan with his cross from the by-line.

The former Oxford striker, arriving late, didn't have to break stride and from the six-yard box he lashed the ball home with a cool execution.

As stylish as City's opener was, it was Oxford who held the upper hand and had Fettis not been at his best then the Minstermen would have found themselves trailing at half-time.

Just prior to Nogan's blast, the City goalkeeper had superbly tipped Paul Powell's free-kick, arrowed for the top corner, on to the bar.

He then had to be at full stretch to push Paul Moody's powerful header around the post before producing perhaps his best save of the bunch to claw Omoyinmi's low drive out from inside the post.

All in all though, and despite the best efforts of City's vociferous travelling legion of fans to instill some atmosphere, it had been a rather subdued affair all round.

But if the first-half had been disappointing for the neutral the second was in sharp contrast, which sparked into life straight from the kick-off and didn't stop until the final whistle.

Disappointingly for City, Oxford's equaliser two minutes in was a particularly soft goal to concede.

Moody appeared unmarked as he headed David Savage's free-kick back across goal and Brooks, another United player unhindered by a City defender, was able to fire home via a deflection from 15 yards.

It could have been worse for City within seconds of the restart but for a fine challenge from Mark Maley to deny Omoyinmi a simple side foot home.

But from despair to joy within the blink of a City eye as parity for Oxford proved all too short.

Sam Ricketts' rolled a simple enough ball back to his 'keeper only for Ian McCaldon to hoof his clearance straight at a pressuring Proctor and the ball rebounded off the City man and past the stricken shot-stopper.

After such a slice of good fortune it looked like Lady Luck was smiling on City, particularly after both Brooks and Powell squandered gilt-edged chances from inside the six-yard box, one after the other.

But it wasn't just luck that was strengthening City's hand. By now the Minstermen were playing some of their best and most controlled football.

Proctor lashed a volley just wide from 12 yards, Lee Bullock and Brass both forced saves from McCaldon with efforts from range before Nogan cut in from the right, and after a suggestion of hand-ball from Ricketts, squared for Proctor, who miscued horribly wide from 12 yards.

But from looking home and dry, an assured City had the rug pulled from under their feet as LadyLuck promptly switched sides.

There was more than a whiff of offside as Brooks latched on to Moody's through ball and after seeing his first effort superbly saved by Fettis was thankful that the rebound landed back at his feet and he was able to bundle the ball home at the second time of asking.

Having been in so much control, Oxford now looked the team most likely in the last final, frantic moments.

Phil Bolland headed straight into the arms of Fettis and Stuart Douglas poked just wide from Powell's low centre.

But hold on the Minstermen did, leaving the City faithful with at least one new statistic to occupy their thoughts.

Previously, it was noted City always win when Proctor scores. Now that will have to read City never lose when the hitman - on loan all season now from Sunderland - strikes.

Oxford United:

Scorer: Brooks 47min, 83

Oxford: McCaldon, Richardson, Bolland, Ricketts, Stockley (Folland 71m), Savage, Quinn (Whitehead 58m), Powell, Omoyinmi (Douglas 67m), Moody, Brooks

Subs, not used: Knight, King

Bookings: Brooks 53m (foul)

Sent-off: None

York City:

Scorers: Nogan 15min, Proctor 48

City: Fettis 8, Edmondson 6, Hobson 7, Hocking 7, Maley 6, Cooper 6, Bullock 6, Brass 7, Potter 6, Proctor 8, Nogan 7

Subs, not used: Howarth, Smith, Richardson, Fox, Stamp

Bookings: Hocking 25m (foul), Brass 33m (foul), Edmondson 51m (foul)

Sent-off: None

Attendance: 5,487

Ref: Andy Hall (Birmingham)