Oxford United boss Jim Smith said his team sometimes drive him round he bend - and they did again last night as they let in a last-minute goal in their 2-2 draw with Dagenham.

The Conference leaders snatched a point, which keeps them 11 points clear of Oxford at the top, after the U's failed to clear the ball on the edge of their box.

Substitute Sam Sloma slid in the leveller to put the Daggers within three wins of the title, and deny United the victory they deserved after a great second-half comeback capped by two fine goals from Yemi Odubade.

The U's boss was seen in the televised match kicking away a water bottle in frustration at the 90th-minute goal.

And afterwards he said: "Why we ended having the ball back there at that stage of the game, I don't know. It drives me round the bend.

"We talk about 'wind the clock down, wind the clock down' all the time and we still go and do it.

"Hopefully we'll learn from that tonight. Having said that, Barry Quinn says he was fouled in the lead-up to the goal as he attempted to clear the ball. That's probably why he mis-cleared.

"But I don't know why Sloma was free in the box, and it's maybe being a bit harsh, but I thought the keeper (Billy Turley) could have just stopped it. It went through his legs, I think."

However, the quality of football from the U's, and in particular from Odubade, in the second half will lift them as they face six more crucial games to try and reach the play-offs.

"We weren't ever going to win the league, if we'd won tonight," Smith said.

"The second-half performance gave us a lot of encouragement for the future.

"Of late, Yemi's been playing extremely well, without finishing, and he took both his goals extremely well.

"Hopefully, he'll take that on, in terms of confidence. He was outstanding in the second half and he tore them apart."

With the title race all over bar the shouting - Dagenham will probably have it wrapped up by Easter - United can concentrate on booking a top five place.

"There's a little bit of pressure for the play-offs, but there's no pressure for the championship and the lads knew that," Smith said. "That's why they went for it as well as they did in the second half."

Odubade was as upset as anyone that his two goals didn't bring victory.

He said: "With just a few minutes to go . . . that's the story of our season really. We played so well to come from behind and get the two goals.

"It's just heartbreaking, but Wembley here we come!"