The draw means United is still winless in Victorian state league division 3 north-west with two points in 11th place on the 12-team ladder.

Essendon led 2-1 at half-time via goals to Robert Carchedi and Brandon Defina, but Melbourne University drew level with five minutes of regular time remaining.

Essendon United coach Norm Mancuso thought University's equaliser could well have been disallowed for a foul on a back-tracking defender by the Rangers player who went on to score the goal. But any frustration from that moment was replaced with far greater angst shortly after as United had a potential match-winning goal waved offside and subsequently disallowed.

"A shot comes in and that was kept out (by Melbourne University's goalkeeper)," Mancuso said. "There was a header from one of our players that hits the post, then the ball comes back and Lazaros Christou, who has run in from deep, finishes and puts it in the net. He was called offside even though he had come from deep in the field."

Mancuso said there was no confusion about passive offside or other players involved in the move and it was definitely Christou who had been flagged as the offside player.

"It was a day of bad fortune."

The return of Kevin Paterson to central midfield in the weekend match is one inclusion Mancuso said should help his team in coming games.

Essendon United hosts Hume United at Abefeldie Park on Saturday with kick-off at 3pm.

Around the grounds

PROVISIONAL one north-west: North Sunshine Eagles 1 db FC Strathmore 2 (A. Kranjinovic, S.Bebic), Whittlesea United 1 db Avondale Heights 3 (S. Ticehurst 2, M.Principato)

Provisional two north-west: Melbourne Tornado 1 (R. Blazevic) db Moreland United 2

Provisional three south-east: Essendon United 2 (J. Blanco, R. Marchioli) db Manningham 3

Metro north-west: Yarra Jets 3 d Ascot Vale 0.