EMILY Allen’s terrific volley gave Oxford United a dramatic late win against Portsmouth in the FA Women’s National League.

The 90th-minute effort restored a lead which had been provided by Georgia Timms’s penalty, before Katie James equalised via a free-kick.

It ended a four-match winning streak for Pompey and kept the fourth-placed U’s in contention for a top-two finish in the Southern Premier Division.

They began brightly at Court Place Farm, with Timms and Flo Fyfe flashing efforts just wide.

Ellie Noble came even closer, but saw her effort strike the woodwork after a flowing move down the left.

Portsmouth struggled to carve out chances from open play, but always looked a threat from set pieces.

They nearly made United pay on the stroke of half-time, when a cheaply-conceded corner was scrambled to safety.

The home side broke the deadlock four minutes after the restart.

Timms coolly converted from the penalty spot after she had been brought down by Rebekah Tonks.

But within seven minutes Pompey were back on level terms in spectacular fashion from James’s long-range free-kick.

Goalkeeper Lucy Thomas was beaten, but she made several saves as the visitors pushed hard for a second goal.

United weathered the storm and looked to be on course for a point.

But they conjured a fantastic winner when Fyfe’s cross picked out Allen, who calmly volleyed past Hannah Haughton.

United host Cardiff City, the side immediately above them in the table, next Tuesday.

But before then they face Oxford City at Court Place Farm in the Oxfordshire Women’s County Cup final (2pm).