Jack Midson made a sensational start to his life at the Kassam Stadium by snatching an equaliser just two minutes after coming on as a sub as Oxford United held Championship outfit QPR to a 2-2 draw in their first home pre-season friendly last night.

Midson, a summer signing from Histon, showed his predatory instincts by nipping in between Matthew Connolly and keeper Radek Cerny, and knocked the ball home.

It brought the U's a draw they richly deserved in an entertaining encounter watched by more than 3,200.

QPR boss Jim Magilton paid his old club the compliment of playing his strongest side, and it wasn't long before the R's showed their class.

They took the lead in the eighth minute when Gavin Mahon slotted home.

Both sides were playing some good football on an excellent surface, with Wayne Routledge involved in much of the early action.

As Rangers put neat moves together and threatened to add to their score, it needed vital tackles from centre backs Rhys Day and then Mark Creighton to stop visiting forwards.

Marcus Kelly, who had produced a lovely bit of skill on the left wing to dispossess Peter Ramage, showed his vision moments later with a gloriously weighted pass to sett Matt Green free for a run at goal. Green raced forwards but his shot was straight at Czech keeper Radek Cerny.

James Constable was then unlucky not to score when his acrobatic volley at a corner deflected wide off a QPR defender.

With Billy Turley laid low by flu, Ryan Clarke played the whole match, and the summer signing from Northwich showed his ability with a superb fingertip save from Routledge, after clever play by Patrick Agyemang.

At the start of the second half, Kelly had the ball whipped off his feet as he shaped to shoot in front of goal, and as the U's began to look more threatening as they attacked the Oxford Mail Stand, as they so often do, Green won his penalty.

Cutting in from the right, he made space for himself to fire in a left-footed shot, did so, and saw it hit the hand of Latvian defender Kaspars Gorkss.

Cool as you like, Green then tucked away the spot kick to Cerny's right.

However, on 63 minutes, the pacy Routledge beat United's offside trap, ran through and, despite Clarke's attempt to drive him wide, finished well.

United were not to be denied, though, and after Midson had replaced Green, he demonstrated what an asset he could be this season to manager Chris Wilder.

In the closing minutes QPR sub Alessandro Pelicori hit the inside of a post from an effort with his outstretched leg.

And Clarke kept his concentration level high by holding on to a fierce last-minute drive from Adel Taarabt.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Chapman, Day, Creighton, Sandwith, Murray (Potter 80), Bulman, Clist, Kelly (Rhodes 80), Constable (Deering 86), Green (Midson 69).

Referee: John Farries (Oxfordshire).

Att: 3,246 (893 from QPR).