OXFORD United failed to ease their relegation fears as they were held at home by Macclesfield on Wednesday night, writes Jon Murray.

They still have not won at the Kassam Stadium in 2006, but it wasn't a bad performance.

They just didn't get enough decent shots on goal.

And they had to come from behind after an error by goalkeeper Billy Turley, who was controversially recalled to the starting line-up by boss Brian Talbot.

Mark E'Beyer earned them a point by levelling direct from a corner, but the U's will reflect on two points dropped rather than the one they collected.

Before kick-off, Oxford's players went up to applaud the home fans in the Oxford Mail Stand, which looked a good move in demonstrating the unity and togetherness of team and supporters.

That helped to set the tone for the evening, and the fans again got right behind the U's.

However, a hush descen- ded over the stadium when Oxford fell behind in the 16th minute.

Leo Roget gave away a free-kick outside the area, and Macclesfield left back Kevin Sandwith hit it with swerve and menace but Turley should still have saved it.

The ball bounced in front of him, came off his hand and still entered the goal.

Macclesfield had gone close a few minutes earlier when Clyde Wijnhard set up a shooting chance for Danny Whitaker, which he drove straight at the keeper.

Steve Basham was superb in his workrate and hold-up play, but support from midfield was often slow in arriving.

Tim Sills set up an opportunity for Basham with a header across the box, but keeper Tommy Lee got right behind the effort.

However, Lee was as much to blame for Oxford's equaliser on 26 minutes as Turley had been for the Silkmen's goal ten minutes before.

Matt Robinson, outstanding throughout the first half, forced a corner, which E'Beyer curled in under the bar. There was some wind to contend with, but Lee made a hash of dealing with the flag kick, and it went straight in.

It was the first time the U's had scored direct from a corner at the Kassam Stadium.

Turley's kicking had been poor on a number of occasions, and home fans were questioning Talbot's decision in recalling him as they chanted "Tardif, Tardif, No 1".

However, he did hold onto a 30-yard free-kick from Sandwith and then made a good save from the same player by clawing another shot around his post.

The U's, though, had edged the first half and they might have had more goals. E'Beyer came in on the blind side to meet a Robinson left-wing cross with a header, which he directed wide.

And Basham (pictured), dropping deep, hammered in a low 30-yard shot which Lee fortuitously turned over, the ball coming off his hand, bouncing on the ground and then lifting over the bar.

At half-time, Talbot took off Andy Burgess, who was struggling with an ankle injury, and brought on Chris Willmott, switching to a 3-5-2 system to get a grip on the middle of the park.

Chris Hargreaves got behind the Macclesfield defence on one good run, but scuffed his shot, while Basham showed good skill in carving out a shot after turning sharply with his back to goal.

But it was Brian Horton's men who missed a golden chance to regain the lead. Sandwith hit a made-to-measure cross from the left, yet Wijnhard missed his kick in front of a gaping goal.

In the last ten minutes, the Oxford supporters again did all they could to try to suck the ball into the visitors' net.

And with six minutes to go it almost came. Barry Quinn produced an excellent first touch to bring down Robinson's cross, but this time goalkeeper Lee was off his line in a flash to block.

A slick turn and low cross from E'Beyer then set up a shooting chance for Basham, but he couldn't get any power behind it.

But it could have been worse.

In the final minute, Wijnhard played a one-two with Alan Navarro, got ahead of Jon Ashton but scooped his shot just wide when it seemed he must score.