Substitute Adam Mekki rescued a point for relegation strugglers Aldershot against Oxford United.

U's midfielder Adam Chapman opened the scoring from 20 yards, his first goal of the season, after good work from James Constable.

But Mekki scored a brilliant curling equaliser into the top corner from outside the box with six minutes left.

And United ended the game with 10 men after midfielder Simon Heslop was sent off for a tackle on Mekki.

Oxford held a minute's applause before the game for former U's winger Mitchell Cole, who died at the age of 27 last week.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Aldershot Town manager Dean Holdsworth told BBC Surrey:

"You want your subs to make an impact with the right attitude and Adam Mekki's got that and it shows the strength in depth is getting better and the confidence is better.

"I think we could've been better in certain areas and positions but we opened them up quite a lot and Danny Hylton caused them problems. On another day we could've walked away with three points.

"I've always had the belief in these players that they will come through the storm and if we carry one playing like this then were going to be a force."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Oxford United

  • 01 Clarke
  • 02 Batt
  • 04 Raynes
  • 06 Wright
  • 17 Capaldi
  • 07 Chapman
  • 15 Potter (Heslop - 61' Dismissed )
  • 20 Leven Booked
  • 26 Davis (Craddock - 56' )
  • 09 Constable
  • 14 Rigg Booked

Substitutes

  • 21 Brown
  • 22 Worley
  • 23 O'Brien
  • 08 Heslop
  • 18 Forster-Caskey
  • 19 Cox
  • 29 Craddock

Aldershot Town

  • 21 Young
  • 02 Herd
  • 03 Tonkin Booked
  • 05 Brown
  • 23 Bradley
  • 11 Vincenti (Mekki - 74' )
  • 28 Cadogan
  • 31 Rose
  • 39 Hector
  • 10 Hylton
  • 37 Lopez (Reid - 75' )

Substitutes

  • 29 Morris
  • 16 Berqvrst
  • 08 Payne
  • 17 Mekki
  • 33 Roberts
  • 14 Sinclair
  • 20 Reid
Ref: Harrington
Att: 5,721

Match Stats

Shots

6 9

On target

3 4

Corners

4 5

Fouls

14 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:36 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:43

The assistant referee signals for offside against Sean Rigg. Jamie Young takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:45

Craig Reid is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

90:00 +2:05

Centre by Sean Rigg, save made by Jamie Young.

90:00 +0:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sean Rigg by Kieron Cadogan. Ryan Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

89:15

Free kick taken by Jamie Young.

89:15 Dismissal

Dismissal Simon Heslop shown a red card for professional foul.

89:05

Adam Mekki fouled by Simon Heslop, the ref awards a free kick.

87:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Hylton on Ryan Clarke. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

85:56 Booking

Booking Peter Leven goes into the book.

83:56 Goal scored

Goal - Adam Mekki - Oxford 1 - 1 Aldershot Adam Mekki finds the net with a goal from outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Oxford Utd 1-1 Aldershot.

83:09

Inswinging corner taken by Adam Mekki, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance.

81:38

The official flags Sean Rigg offside. Jamie Young restarts play with the free kick.

80:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Chapman by Michael Hector. Ryan Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

79:34

James Constable gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ben Herd. Jamie Young restarts play with the free kick.

78:18

Damian Batt concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Mekki. Adam Mekki takes the direct free kick.

77:41

Peter Leven concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Rose. Free kick taken by Jamie Young.

76:16

Foul by Tony Capaldi on Kieron Cadogan, free kick awarded. Ben Herd takes the direct free kick.

72:37 Substitution

Substitution Craig Reid replaces Daniel Lopez.

72:37 Substitution

Substitution Adam Mekki comes on in place of Peter Vincenti.

72:37

Michael Hector concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Craddock. Peter Leven fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, clearance made by Kieron Cadogan.

71:50

Corner from the right by-line taken by Peter Leven, clearance by Kieron Cadogan.

71:32

Damian Batt produces a cross, clearance by Sonny Bradley.

70:20

Kieron Cadogan sends in a cross, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

68:53

Danny Hylton produces a cross, clearance made by Tony Capaldi. Inswinging corner taken by Kieron Cadogan, James Constable manages to make a clearance.

66:18

The ball is crossed by James Constable.

65:09

Effort on goal by Daniel Lopez from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.

64:03

The official flags Daniel Lopez offside. Ryan Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

62:59

Danny Hylton challenges Michael Raynes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

62:00

The ball is sent over by Peter Vincenti, Jake Wright makes a clearance.

61:28

The ball is swung over by Damian Batt, Sonny Bradley manages to make a clearance.

60:26 Substitution

Substitution Simon Heslop replaces Alfie Potter.

60:00

The ball is crossed by Damian Batt.

58:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Damian Batt on Peter Vincenti. Kieron Cadogan takes the direct free kick, Danny Hylton takes a shot. Damian Batt gets a block in.

57:45

A cross is delivered by Sean Rigg, Jamie Young makes a save.

56:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Raynes on Danny Hylton. Kieron Cadogan takes the direct free kick, Shot from just outside the box by Danny Hylton misses to the right of the goal.

55:34 Substitution

Substitution (Oxford Utd) makes a substitution, with Tom Craddock coming on for Liam Davis.

55:16

Adam Chapman produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

54:31

The ball is sent over by Anthony Tonkin, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

53:55

Foul by Peter Leven on Danny Rose, free kick awarded. Jamie Young takes the indirect free kick.

53:23

Corner taken by Peter Leven played to the near post, Daniel Lopez manages to make a clearance.

52:34

Centre by Anthony Tonkin, Damian Batt makes a clearance.

51:24

Michael Hector takes a long range shot harmlessly clearing the crossbar.

50:18

Sean Rigg concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Herd. Strike on goal comes in from Danny Rose from the free kick, Alfie Potter manages to make a clearance.

48:01

Unfair challenge on Sean Rigg by Troy Brown results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Peter Leven.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:01 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

40:41

The referee gives a free kick against Kieron Cadogan for handball. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

38:00

Anthony Tonkin sends in a cross.

37:06 Booking

Booking Sean Rigg goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

36:03

Peter Leven takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Danny Hylton makes a clearance. Peter Leven takes the inswinging corner, Jamie Young makes a save.

35:30

Michael Hector challenges Liam Davis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Peter Leven.

33:45

Unfair challenge on Daniel Lopez by Jake Wright results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ben Herd.

32:29

James Constable provided the assist for the goal.

32:29 Goal scored

Goal - Adam Chapman - Oxford 1 - 0 Aldershot Adam Chapman scores a goal from outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Oxford Utd 1-0 Aldershot.

31:21

Michael Hector sends in a cross, save by Ryan Clarke.

30:46

Liam Davis handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Ben Herd restarts play with the free kick.

30:08

Kieron Cadogan has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.

28:54

The ball is crossed by Daniel Lopez, Michael Raynes manages to make a clearance.

27:56

James Constable produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

27:02

Daniel Lopez challenges Jake Wright unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael Raynes takes the free kick.

22:54

Corner taken by Peter Vincenti, save by Ryan Clarke.

22:14

Centre by Daniel Lopez, save by Ryan Clarke.

20:15

Danny Rose takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Tony Capaldi.

18:18

Strike comes in from Peter Leven from the free kick, clearance made by Troy Brown.

18:18 Booking

Booking Caution for Anthony Tonkin.

18:08

Free kick awarded for a foul by Anthony Tonkin on Alfie Potter.

14:56

Peter Vincenti fouled by Damian Batt, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kieron Cadogan.

13:31

Kieron Cadogan delivers the ball, Michael Hector takes a shot. Ryan Clarke makes a comfortable save. The official flags Tony Capaldi offside. Free kick taken by Jamie Young.

12:01

Peter Vincenti challenges Damian Batt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

11:20

Unfair challenge on Michael Hector by James Constable results in a free kick. Ben Herd takes the free kick.

9:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Davis on Ben Herd. Free kick taken by Jamie Young.

9:16

Danny Hylton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

6:51

Centre by James Constable, Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Alfie Potter goes wide of the right-hand upright. Peter Vincenti concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Raynes. Damian Batt takes the free kick.

6:20

Danny Hylton is ruled offside. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

5:39

Liam Davis handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Ben Herd.

4:35

Ben Herd fouled by James Constable, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Young takes the free kick.

4:17

Damian Batt crosses the ball, clearance by Troy Brown.

3:43

Danny Rose takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand post.

2:40

Michael Raynes fouled by Daniel Lopez, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

0:16

Kieron Cadogan takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Liam Davis.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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