WES Thomas was delighted to mark his Oxford United debut with a goal as pre-season began with a 1-1 draw at Solihull Moors.

The striker, one of six summer signings on show at Damson Park, took just nine minutes to open his account after coming on at half-time.

Latching on to a clever pass from Alex MacDonald, with whom he linked up well throughout his 45-minute appearance, Thomas found the net with the outside of his right boot from 12 yards.

Although only a friendly, the goal boosted the 29-year-old.

He said: “Of course, you want to get off the mark, even if it’s only a pre-season game.

“It’s good for the confidence, so I’m pleased.

“You’ve got to make the most of pre-season, I was just trying to work hard and you’ve got to keep getting fitter.”

Thomas’s goal was the undoubted highlight for the travelling fans in a game which contained few chances.

After Dan Crowley impressed early on, Ryan Taylor had the best chance of the first half when he collected a poor clearance from Nathan Vaughan, but the Moors goalkeeper made amends with a fine save.

United made ten changes at the break and the second-half side opened the scoring through Thomas on 54 minutes.

Chey Dunkley wasted an excellent chance to make it 2-0 when MacDonald’s deflected free-kick came his way just after the hour.

Moors also made wholesale changes at the break and one of their substitutes equalised out of the blue midway through the second half.

Lewis Hayden attempted a cross from wide on the right, but he miscued and the ball curled over Simon Eastwood and into the far corner of the net.

United had the better chances in the closing stages.

James Roberts scuffed a shot wide from Sam Long’s low cross, while Jonny Giles volleyed just off target from a MacDonald centre.

The game’s one bizarre moment came midway through the second half, when United were prevented from making a substitution.

Callum O’Dowda’s absence through illness meant the U’s had only 21 players, so Jonny Giles stayed on after the first half.

But when United attempted to replace him with George Jeacock, who had also played in the first half, the assistant referee intervened.

Appleton said: “I didn’t know it was that official a fixture, so poor Jonny had to do 90 minutes.

“The most important thing at this stage is making sure players don’t get injured and feel like their fitness levels are going in the right direction.

“Touch wood there’s no injuries, no-one’s suffering, so we’re OK.”

OXFORD UNITED LINE-UPS

1st half: Buchel, Ribeiro, Martin, Cundy, Skarz, Jeacock, Lundstram, Ashby, Giles, Crowley, Taylor.

2nd half: Eastwood, Long, Nelson, Dunkley, Welch-Hayes, MacDonald, Sercombe, Ruffels, Giles, Thomas, Roberts.

Attendance: 620.