TEN-MAN Oxford United were forced to settle for a replay as they were held to a draw by a battling Braintree Town side.

Ryan Taylor headed United into a 15th minute lead in the Emirates FA Cup first round tie, but five minutes of second half madness proved costly. 

Kenny Davis fired Braintree back into the match on 64 minutes and moments later Johnny Mullins was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Michael Cheek.

Both sides pushed for a winner, but they will meet again a week on Tuesday.

Michael Appleton made five changes from the side that convincingly beat Stevenage 5-1 last weekend.

Cameron Gayle made his debut at left back after signing a short-term contract earlier this week, with Joe Skarz moving to centre half in the absence of the suspended Chey Dunkley.

Goalkeeper Benji Buchel made his second start, Danny Rose came into the centre of midfield, while Callum O'Dowda replaced the rested Kemar Roofe and Patrick Hoban partnered Taylor up front. 

It was the hosts who started the brighter, but failed to test Buchel, while United registered the first shot on goal on six minutes when Mullins fired a low shot straight at Will Norris from 20 yards.

Oxford grew into the game and O'Dowda began to threaten Braintree at every opportunity.

And on 15 minutes, it was his whipped cross that found Taylor, who rose highest to nod the ball past Norris and into the bottom corner.

United looked in control and a minute later should have made it 2-0, but Taylor could only put the ball over the bar from six yards after Norris pushed O'Dowda's driven effort straight to the striker.

Braintree regrouped and on 29 minutes United's defence showed the first signs of weakness when Mullins fouled Cheek 20 yards from goal as they chased a long ball from Norris.

Sparkes whipped the free kick up and over the wall, but Buchel comfortably saved the winger's effort.

Braintree were not done there and they ended the half on top after Cheek's header from a Sparkes corner flew inches wide of Buchel's left-hand post on 41 minutes.

United emerged from half-time knowing there was still plenty of work to do and on 50 minutes Hoban had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0.

Taylor intercepted Chez Isaac's mis-placed pass and committed defenders, before playing Hoban through one-on-one, but Norris came out on top as the Irishman looked certain to score.

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The visitors continued to create the better chances and Hoban went close again, but he could only head Alex MacDonald's cross onto the roof of the net.

United were beginning to look frustrated and on the hour mark Buchel slipped in picking up a long ball, but Skarz saved his blushes to deny Cheek.

However, the host's next attack three minutes later proved profitable as Isaac found Davis on the edge of the area to slot coolly past Buchel into the bottom corner.

And suddenly United were up against it as Rose was dispossessed by Davis, who fed Cheek and Mullins cynically brought down the frontman, leaving referee Philip Gibbs with no choice but to show him a second yellow card.

United were on the rails and moments later, Isaac forced a smart save from Buchel.

The visitors reshuffled, with Gayle going into the centre of defence and O'Dowda dropping to left back and Danny Hylton and Liam Sercombe entering the fray.

And on 81 minutes they could have grabbed victory when Rose and Hylton combined to set up Sercombe whose low shot hit a post.

United showed real grit with a man down and looked more likely with Sercombe forcing a save from Norris, before Gayle headed O'Dowda's corner wide.

Oxford continued to pile men forward, but Braintree had not given up and in the first minute of stoppage time, Sean Marks acrobatically fired over the bar.

And the visitors had the best chance right at the death, but Buchel, at full strength, brilliantly denied Taylor Miles' effort, and kept his side in the FA Cup in the process.

Braintree: Norris, Clerima (Miles 36), Paine, Phillips, Habergham, Brundle, Isaac, Woodyard, Davis, Sparkes (Marks 67), Cheek (List 89).

Unused subs: Fry, Walker, Haigh, Sekajja.

Oxford Utd: Buchel, Baldock, Mullins, Skarz, Gayle, MacDonald (Sercombe 76), Lundstram, Rose, O'Dowda, Hoban, Taylor (Hylton 76).

Unused subs: Slocombe, Giles, Ashby, Cundy, George.

Referee: Philip Gibbs (Midlands).

Attendance: 1,248 (459 visitors).