HOT weather and a determined opposition combined to give Oxford United a real test in their opening pre-season game on Saturday.

The visitors had to wait until Deane Smalley’s 90th-minute header to finally overcome Ardley United, who had levelled courtesy of what looked a soft penalty, converted by Ryan Brooks.

It had taken 48 minutes for the initial breakthrough, when Alfie Potter found the net after good work from Dave Kitson.

Ardley’s tenacity ensured the League Two side had to work hard, not easy in such sweltering conditions, while the other major plus was to come through it without any injuries.

The visitors fielded different sides in each half.

Triallist Matt Heath started at centre half, while the first-half team saw David Hunt and Jon Meades make their debuts.

Sean Rigg provided their main source of creativity, laying on an early chance which Tyrone Marsh volleyed over.

But Ardley, playing up the slope, came closest to scoring.

A weak backpass from David Lynn on 12 minutes forced Ryan Clarke to smother an opening for Jon Gardner.

The rebound fell kindly for Troy Bryan, whose powerful volley cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and bounced clear.

The U’s controlled much of the game, though Ardley keeper Jack Harding had to make only one save, keeping out a Meades volley.

While they had toiled without a breakthrough, Oxford’s secondhalf team took less than three minutes to open the scoring.

Kitson charged down Harding and set up Potter, who beat one man before rolling a shot into the net.

It set the tone for a bright spell.

Callum O’Dowda was a threat on the left flank and whipped in two crosses which only just eluded Smalley, who also had a header saved from a Kitson centre.

It looked only a matter of time before the visitors’ lead increased, but instead 16 minutes from time Ardley equalised.

The referee saw a trip from triallist Kenzer Lee on Jason Castello, who stayed on his feet, awarding a penalty to the bemusement of the United players and spectators.

Ryan Brooks stepped up and confidently beat Max Crocombe to find the corner of the net.

United finished strongly as Ardley’s defence finally began to wilt in the sunshine.

Asa Hall fizzed a shot off target, while Potter was denied a second goal when Harding made a smart block at his near post.

The Ardley goalkeeper made an even better save to keep out a low shot from Smalley late on.

But from the resulting corner, taken by Danny Rose, the striker got his goal, planting a header past Harding for a late winner.