Grays boss Justin edinburgh paid tribute to midfielder Tom Williamson after his thunderbolt ensured Athletic held title hunting Oxford to a morale boosting 2-2 draw.
The hosts already pegged Oxford back once before but looked to be heading for an ill-deserved defeat when Rob Duffy converted a 73rd minute.
But up stepped the unlikely figure of Williamson, who had not previously scored for the club, to rifle home an absolute rocket from the edge of the box.
"Tom has shown great character because I dropped him for thie game to bring back Stuart Thurgood," said Edinburgh.
"But he came on when Thurgood got injured early on and put in a great performance and scored a great goal on the half-volley."
The draw was the least Grays deserved from a game they dominated in every category bar the score-line.
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