OXFORD United again came from behind - but could only manage a draw at ten-man Kettering last night.

But it could have been so different had substitute Alex Rhodes not been denied a certain goal in injury time by the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Lee Harper.

Trailing to a 12th-minute penalty after full back Adam Chapman and goalkeeper Ryan Clarke both hesitated, the U's hit back well.

And after Kevin Sandwith drew them level eight minutes later, neither side could find another breakthrough.

Damien Spencer then saw red for two fouls, before Rhodes was denied.

Matt Green broke down the right, and when James Constable could not reach his cross, the ball fell to Rhodes, who shot back across goal, only for the leg of Harper to deny him.

Chris Wilder made two changes from the side that beat York on Saturday, also altering his side's system.

Green was rewarded for his superb performance as a substitute with a starting role - but not up front, on the left wing.

Alfie Potter, another to impress from the bench, came in for Marcus Kelly, who was left out of the 16.

Constable, who was struggling with a back injury, was on the bench.

Green had a great chance to put Oxford ahead in just the fifth minute.

Murray's corner found an unmarked Sandwith, whose header fell to Green six yards out, but he couldn't get a proper connection and mis-hit his shot wide.

And the miss proved costly, because in the next meaningful attack Kettering took the lead.

A long ball saw both Chapman and Clarke hesitate, and when the keeper made up his mind to go for the ball, Jean-Paul Marna got there first.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Marna picked himself up to fire home.

But just eight minutes later, Oxford were level.

Green did extremely well to keep the ball in down the left, and he was then brought down by Nicky Eaden.

From the free-kick, Adam Murray fooled everyone - except Sandwith.

Feigning to cross into the box, Murray rolled the ball square, and Sandwith, unmarked, fired into the bottom corner.

Oxford stayed on the front foot, Jack Midson firing over from 18 yards, and Sandwith blasting a free-kick over the bar.

Mark Creighton then headed another Murray corner just over.

However, the defender was then at fault when a poor header fell to Francis Green, and he dragged his shot wide from 12 yards when he should have scored.

Exodus Geohaghon's long throws were causing the Oxford defence countless problems, the big defender able to launch the ball into the middle of the penalty area from anywhere in the U's half.

From one of these, Clarke then atoned for his earlier header when Green latched onto an Ian Roper flick, but Clarke dived to his left to save at full stretch.

Five minutes after half-time, a long ball saw Luke Foster outmuscled by Damien Spencer, and the former Cheltenham striker's shot beat Clarke, but went wide of a post.

It was a real let-off for Oxford's defence.

A great move involving Midson, Murray and Sandwith saw the latter cross for Simon Clist to head goalbound, and Lee Harper was forced into a good save.

The game was end-to-end, but all too often any flow was hindered by the referee, who refused to play any advantage.

Murray was presented by a half-chance when Harper missed a punch clear, but could not get any connection on the ball.

Spencer then saw red on 67 minutes when he caught Creighton was a late tackle, having earlier been booked for going over the top on Foster.

Wilder then replaced Midson with Constable as he looked for his side to take the initiative.

To be fair to Kettering, they kept going forward, with left back James Jennings trying his luck from distance.

But it was Harper who saved his side, his foot denying United three points.