A LATE goal from Scott Brown saw Oxford United stumble to a defeat against ten-man Accrington Stanley.

It completed a desperate second-half display for Michael Appleton's men, who conceded an equaliser to Billy Kee seconds after the restart.

The game was heavily affected by windy conditions, but United struggled badly playing into the breeze and will be hugely disappointed they could not build on Kemar Roofe's opener.

Stanley had Tom Davies sent off in the closing stages, but Brown popped into claim a winner which moved them to within three points of United in the Sky Bet League Two promotion race.

Alex MacDonald, rested in midweek, returned to the side at the expense of Danny Hylton, while the second change saw centre back Chey Dunkley replace the injured Jake Wright.

Testing conditions affected the game from kick-off, as a strong wind blew down the pitch.

United played with the breeze at their backs in the first half and got away to a quick start.

MacDonald had already skidded a low shot wide when, in the third minute, Maguire came within inches of opening the scoring.

A block on Jordan Bowery gave the forward a free-kick 25 yards out, which he struck beautifully, only to see it come back off the crossbar.

It was a familiar feeling for the luckless Maguire, who also struck the woodwork in the previous two home games.

Stanley, who started the game fourth in the Sky Bet League Two table, belatedly found their rhythm.

They looked to pass the ball out from the back and kept the ball well at times, although several moves broke down when lofted passes caught the wind and sailed out of play.

United found chances hard to come by, with Stanley goalkeeper Ross Etheridge showing good anticipation midway through the half to cut out a Bowery pass which threatened to set Maguire away.

The Scot fared better on 29 minutes, when he opened the deadlock.

Drifting to the left he cut inside and curled a cross which found the far corner of the net.

Kemar Roofe claimed he had got the faintest of touches, leaving both men claiming the goal, although it looks set to go down as the United top scorer's 20th of the season.

The important fact was United were ahead - and Bowery quickly had a glorious chance to double the advantage.

A loose pass fell to Roofe, who slipped the tall striker through one-on-one, but his shot was kept out.

It was almost costly five minutes before the break, when United rode their luck.

Goalkeeper Benji Buchel unconvincingly pawed at Piero Mingoia's high cross straight to Sean McConville, whose shot rattled the crossbar.

The ball fell to Bradley Halliday on the edge of the box, from where he fired a shot which Buchel saved.

Stanley lost centre back Joe Wright to injury in the stroke of half-time, which was the last thing a side stretched by suspensions and knocks needed.

But the depleted visitors took just 19 seconds of the second half to get back on level terms.

After MacDonald lost out in a half-hearted tackle, Sean McConville crossed and although Buchel got a hand to Kee's header, he could not prevent it creeping into the net for an equaliser.

United were stunned and took an age to adapt to playing into the wind.

For a long spell they were barely able to string two passes together and while the conditions were difficult, Stanley had made a much better fist of it in the first half.

MacDonald was the first player to judge a through ball correctly, but a heavy touch from Liam Sercombe saw the opportunity disappear.

United looked nervous and Johnny Mullins was fortunate to get away with passing straight to Mingoia, whose shot was saved.

Callum O'Dowda and Danny Hylton were thrown on around the hour mark in a bid to freshen the home side up.

But it had little impact on the game, which grew increasingly scrappy.

The wind was a big factor, but could not explain five-yard passes going astray.

Accrington's threat seemed to subside too amid a flurry of through balls which ran out for goal kicks.

Teenager Brayden Shaw came close to a dream senior debut when, seconds after coming off the bench, he crashed a volley on to the roof of the net.

United were given a late boost when Davies was sent off seven minutes from time, collecting his second yellow card for bringing down a sprinting O'Dowda.

But instead of providing the hosts with a platform to pile on late pressure, Accrington landed a knockout blow.

An 88th-minute cross fell kindly in the box for the unmarked Brown to steer a low shot which crept past Buchel and into the corner to bag the winner.

It completed a miserable week for United, who had lost at home to Northampton Town on Tuesday night and are now within reach of the chasing pack.

Oxford Utd: Buchel, Kenny, Dunkley, Mullins, Skarz, MacDonald (Hylton 61), Sercombe, Lundstram, Roofe (O'Dowda 60), Maguire, Bowery (Ismail 85).

Unused subs: Slocombe, Long, Ruffels, Ashby.

Accrington: Etheridge, Halliday, Davies, Wright (Wakefield 45), Pearson, Mingoia, Brown, Conneely, McConville, Boco (Shaw 79), Kee.

Unused subs: Mooney, Barry, Procter, Carver, Steenson.

Referee: Lee Swabey (Devon).

Attendance: 6,796 (119 visitors).