And in truth they could have claimed more than the 1-1 draw they achieved at a team which finished fourth in the division last season.

The Reading Festival and other unavailability caused Marshall to make five changes from the side who started at Penn & Tylers, but his reshuffled team - which included Matt Molloy, Seun Odusanya, Keyron Hylton, Sam Barham and fit-again club captain Gary Smith - started in fine fashion.

Town dominated the early exchanges and pressed deep into the hosts’ half, winning a string of free kicks in dangerous positions.

However, Headington absorbed the pressure and took the lead against the run of play in the 23rd minute.

Some excellent work from Drew Fowler, Liam Morbey and Aftab Hafiz resulted in the ball being cut back from the left, and Tom Payne was on hand to place a left foot shot past Dan Smith.

The goal gave the Amateurs a lift and they began to take a grip on the contest, in particular starting to boss the midfield exchanges.

Yet Woodley also scored while under the cosh just minutes before half time after Ben Gonzalez floated a free kick into the box from about 40 yards out and summer signing Adam Cashin-Murray continued his excellent form by getting a header on target.

With the ball travelling goalwards a defender attempted to keep the ball out but was unable to do so and it nestled in the back of the net.

The second half began in pouring rain but Woodley had two chances to snatch the lead.

Firstly Hylton missed the target following another free kick and then - following some neat passing - Steve Campbell blazed his left-footed strike over the bar.

With the visitors now in the ascendancy, a great pass from Molloy set up Odusanya for a one on one with the keeper but the assistant referee ruled him offside.

Midway through the second period Marshall replaced Campbell and Barham with Lemar Maycock and Jordan Goddard, and Maycock’s pace was immediately evident on the right, with one raid to the by line setting up Odusanya for a shot which was parried wide.

The same player then also came close with a low shot that Steve Skyrme in the Headington goal did well to get a hand to.

Continuing the ebb and flow nature of the game, the home side started to come back into the match and Dan Smith was called on twice to make saves, including one from point blank range to keep out Luke Cuff.

Woodley threw on Steve Weston in place of the hard-working Carlton Cox for the final five minutes, and Headington also made changes as they searched for a winner, but neither side was able to and the game ended in a deserved draw.

Cashin-Murray was again the visitors’ standout performer, displaying tremendous technique throughout the contest and capping it off by being on the scoresheet.

Woodley Town will look to continue their impressive early-season form when they host Didcot Town Reserves this Saturday.

It will be an historic occasion for Woodley in their first match at Scours Lane after agreeing a ground-share deal with Reading Town.