Jonathan Lewis’ stoppage-time goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Barnsley against lowly Cambridge in League One.

James Brophy’s early goal looked set to earn Cambridge a vital three points before Lewis equalised to secure a draw in Conor Hourihane’s first home game as interim Barnsley head coach.

Cambridge are 12 points adrift of safety with eight games to play after ending a four-match losing run.

Hourihane’s side got off to a nightmare start when Cambridge took a ninth-minute lead.

Dominic Ballard fashioned a reverse pass through to Brophy and the striker finished low past Kieren Flavell, who was making his full EFL debut.

The visitors could have doubled their lead shortly after but the ball somehow did not find the back of the net after a goalmouth scramble.

After the break, the hosts pressed for an equaliser, with Adam Phillips and Max Watters both coming close to scoring.

Barnsley had two appeals for a penalty waved away in quick succession, much to the dismay of the Oakwell crowd.

Davis Keillor-Dunn crashed an effort off the crossbar in the dying moments before the hosts finally scored an equaliser in stoppage time.

Fabio Jalo’s deep cross was headed in by Lewis as the substitutes combined to earn Barnsley a first point in four games.