Walsall 1-1 Oxford Utd: Match Report

Andreas Makris on target as Walsall held by OxfordRecord signing Andreas Makris scored his first Walsall goal but the Saddlers were pegged back by Oxford in an entertaining 1-1 draw.Cypriot international Makris had not scored in 30 games since a summer move from Famagusta but lashed home from 20 yards, only for Chris Maguire's deflected strike to earn United a draw.Walsall twice thought they had taken the lead inside the opening seven minutes but Scott Laird's tap-in was ruled offside and Kieron Morris rattled the post from 18 yards.Morris also saw a 20-yard strike superbly saved by U's keeper Simon Eastwood later in the half.Walsall took the lead after 47 minutes as Makris unleashed an opportunistic half-volley from 20 yards that dipped in off the bar.Oxford almost levelled two minutes later as Walsall defender James O'Connor sliced Maguire's cross onto the post and Conor McAleny's follow-up was hooked off the line by Matt Preston.United did level when Maguire's 25-yard strike took a wicked deflection in off O'Connor on 74 minutes and they almost won it as McAleny's 30-yarder was well saved by Neil Etheridge.

Source: PA