Home striker James Constable had two strong penalty shouts turned down against his former club during the opening half.

But they could have fallen behind late on when goalkeeper Ryan Clarke just managed to keep out Harriers substitute Damien Spencer.

However, Oxford replacement Jack Midson still had enough time to force a decent save from Dean Coleman.

Oxford United: Clarke, Batt, Day, Wright, Tonkin, Potter (Hargreaves 58), Bulman, Clist (Midson 74), Cook (Matthew Green 58), Deering, Constable

subs (unused): Turley, Creighton

Kidderminster Harriers: Coleman, Courtney, Riley, Caines, Baker, Goodfellow (Knights 85), Finnigan, Bennett, Smikle, Matthews (Spencer 74), McPhee

subs (unused): Singh, Sharpe, Hadley

Ref: D. Cooke (Lancashire)

Att: 5,802