GAVIN Whyte scored within ten minutes of coming on as Oxford United were held to a 1-1 draw by Barnet.

The 25-year-old swept home Ryan Williams’s second-half cross to mark his U's return with a goal, although the hosts were pegged back by a late equaliser.

It was a useful exercise against a combative Barnet side in their final pre-season friendly, with United now looking to Saturday’s Sky Bet League One opener at Cambridge United.

United had the two best chances of a goalless first half at their training ground, as Matty Taylor was thwarted one-on-one and Elliott Moore had a header cleared off the line.

Jordan Thorniley was handed his first run-out in a U’s shirt and was the only man to play the full 90 minutes.

Fellow new signing Whyte joined him on the pitch at half-time as United made ten changes and the winger did not take long to make his mark.

Williams beat his man on the outside and cut the ball back, with Whyte drifting in off the left wing to finish from 12 yards.

Dan Agyei had two opportunities to score United’s second, the forward seeing a header saved before side-footing wide from a cross.

But the U’s had to share the spoils when Leon Chambers-Parillon sold Simon Eastwood short with a backpass and a Barnet forward nipped in to round the goalkeeper and score.