GAVIN Whyte savoured a magic moment as his gorgeous strike saw Oxford United’s mini-revival gather pace when they came from behind to draw 1-1 at the Valley.

The winger put last week’s glaring miss for Northern Ireland behind him by picking out the top corner with a perfect curling effort from 20 yards.

“We needed something special and I’m buzzing I did it,” he said.

“I actually thought it was hitting the post with the angle I was at, but you don’t care when it goes in.

“When I was away internationally I could have scored a couple but it’s something I need to add to my game.

“I don’t think it was my best. I scored a few crackers for Crusaders, but it was a special goal and I’ll not forget it any time soon.”

It pegged back a Charlton Athletic side who might have killed the game off before half-time following Lyle Taylor’s 25th-minute penalty.

But United showed the defensive grit which has been a feature of their four-game unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One.

And Whyte admitted there was some disappointment they had not made the most of their chances late on to win the game.

He said: “The first half wasn’t so good, but we just needed a spark. The boys came out in the second half and they were brilliant.

“We’re a confident team and will go into every game thinking we can get something out of it.

“Charlton are a massive club and they were probably the favourites, but we dug deep, got a point and probably should have won it.”

Boss Karl Robinson agreed: “We weren’t lucky here. I can’t remember any chances really that they missed.

“Cameron (Brannagan)’s chance was the best of the first half and I felt second half James Henry and Gavin Whyte could do better, Curtis Nelson had a free header from six yards out.

“We created an awful lot of chances against a very good Charlton side.”

He added: “We had a number of chances we didn’t capitalise on and I think I’m the most disappointed manager right now.”

The visitors were forced to use up one of their substitutions on the hour to protect Rob Dickie.

Already on a booking, the centre back was fortunate to get away with a shirt pull on Taylor and was then furious to be taken off.

But Robinson put it down to Dickie’s enthusiasm and was quick to diffuse the situation, saying: “He’s just apologised, but he’s got nothing to apologise for.”