Plymouth Argyle 2 Oxford Utd 2

THE two teams chasing league leaders Northampton scored two goals a piece in an exciting encounter at Home Park.

Oxford United came to Devon on the back of a three-match winning run, and having won their last five away games, and took a lead after Peter Hartley's unfortunate own-goal. Argyle, via their captain Curtis Nelson, equalised within three minutes, before Oxford went into the break in front thanks to Kemar Roofe's 21st goal of the season.

Half-time substitute Craig Tanner, about five foot eight in his stocking feet, rose to meet a right-wing corner and head home to give the Pilgrims a hard-earned point.

Both sides set out to win the match and claim three points but - whisper it - both would probably have taken the 2-2 draw before play began.

Around two years, two months and two weeks after he made his surprise Argyle debut - against Oxford, coincidentally - Ben Purrington was brought into the Argyle line-up for his first league start of the season. The 19-year-old had made eight substitute appearances, and one start, against Exeter in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, in all competitions this season. Manager Derek Adams had foreshadowed Purrington's inclusion, talking him up in a pre-match press conference, and stating he saw Ben being able to play at left-back, left-midfield or central midfield.

It was in the latter position that he started, alongside Josh Simpson, with Carl McHugh and Oscar Threlkeld ruled out because of injury. Tyler Harvey, another possible alternative, was back on the bench after several weeks absence through injury. He was joined by 16-year-old defender Jordan Bentley, a first-year apprentice, and brother of former Pilgrim Aaron.

With second place visiting third place in Sky Bet League 2 - the teams only separated by Oxford's superior goal difference - it was no surprise that the opening ten minutes essentially saw a feeling out process taking place. Eventually, Argyle won a corner on then left after Gregg Wylde's spadework.

Jake Jervis' delivery found Hartley, who flicked goalwards, only to see the effort blocked. As the ball came back into the area, Hartley prodded twice more towards goal, but each time it was kept out. Another corner ensued, from which Hartley headed just over.

Sadly for Hartley, his flurry of activity was not over.

At the other end, Oxford won a corner of their own, and Chris Maguire swung the ball deep to the far post from the left. Hartley met the ball, but contrived to kick the ball into his own chest, and watched as it looped into his own net.

Argyle, stung, gained a measure of revenge for their unfortunate number six by equalising within three minutes. Another corner, again on the left side, was whipped in by Jervis, and Nelson, unmarked, powered a header beyond Sam Slocombe.

There was a feeling before the game that two attacking sides with promotion credentials could play out a cracking encounter, and after two early goals, there were no signs that those feelings were misplaced. Oxford frequently looked dangerous, particularly through an attacking trio of Kemar Roofe, Danny Hylton and Jordan Bowery, but it was Argyle that carved out the next chance, when Wylde raced beyond United's backline and received a pass from Reuben Reid. Wylde bore down on Slocombe, who made an excellent save when the Scottish winger pulled the trigger.

Nelson went close again from a Carey free-kick to the far post, while at the other end full-backs Kelvin Mellor and Gary Sawyer made notable interventions as Oxford prowled.

As Argyle pushed on down the right to try to open Oxford up again, the visitors picked their spot to break away. Mellor's ball towards Carey was intercepted, and Oxford quickly looked to exploit space vacated by the overlapping Mellor. Bowery cut inside and teed up Roofe, who faded one away from McCormick from the edge of the penalty area.

Bowery was Oxford's livewire, and he went close to hurting the Pilgrims further when a partially-cleared corner was knocked back in, and whistled one just over after the ball had sat up beautifully for him.

Seconds after the fourth official had signaled the two minutes of injury time, Roofe got to the bye-line and cut back for Hylton, who missed the ball entirely. The loose ball fell to right-back JonJoe Kenny, who fired a low shot just wide.

The indicated two minutes of added time turned into four as, in the last thing Argyle could have done with, Hartley fell to the ground having challenged aerially. It took the Argyle defender a long time to limp from the field as the half-time whistle sounded.