MincheryFarmWeb

It’s not often as an Oxford fan that you can say that a day that saw the first team lose and knocked out of a cup is good, but today is probably that day. Don’t get me wrong, I always want U’s to win, but this is one of the few occasions that a defeat isn’t that bad (the other is probably the day when a loss isn’t important to us, but relegates Sw****n).

Goals from Matthews and Smikle, either side of a Green equaliser, gave Kiddy the semi-final place in the FA Trophy. U’s much changed side gave an indication of Chris Wilder’s priorities. The late gung-ho approach also showed how keen we were to avoid a replay at all costs, win or lose we definitely didn’t want a replay on Tuesday.
The fact that Stevenage scraped through against Workington, and now face re-arranging two more Saturday league games to fit in the semi-finals is also a good thing. York’s trophy game against Barrow was postponed, meaning they play on Tuesday to see if they get through to the semis, more fixture pile up for other teams is good. Elsewhere, in the BSP, Luton lost at home to Wimbledon – which keeps them back, and will hopefully tire out the Wombles for their visit to the KasStad on Tuesday.

A more traditionally positive result for United came in the under-18′s match. Oxford’s youngsters travelled to Yeovil and came away with a fine 7-3 win. Incredibly this win came despite being 0-2 down after just 11 minutes. A hattrick by Aaron Woodley, two from Sam Parrish, and a couple more from McDonagh and Harwood gave U’s a comprehensive win.

So, coming to the end of another week. The Blue Square Premier may soon be down to 23, the 12th Man get a replacement for Potter, 2 wins, and Luton get a let-off.

It looks like the whole Chester situation is finally coming to an end. After a game called off because the players, not paid for 3 months, refused to travel, then another because the police wouldn’t turn up unpaid, the Conference board are finally starting the final countdown. They have recommended the expulsion of Chester from the Conference after they admitted (without much choice) several breaches of the rules. The death rattle is dragged out slightly because it needs to go t oa full vote of all member clubs. But at least for Chester fans it is almost all over.

Luton on the other hand have got away with it. They were the 3rd team this season to play Craig Nelthorpe against United. Normally a player can only play for 2 clubs in a season (an issue that will affect Portsmouth’s fire-sale), Nelthorpe has played for York, Barrow and Luton. They’ve got away with it because the games for Barrow were during an “Emergency Loan” spell, which for some reason doesn’t seem to count. Of course, had it been Oxford….

With Alfie Potter’s hamstring injury set to keep him out for over a month, Chris Wilder has signed Coventry winger Ashley Cain on an “emergency loan”. He can play out wide or in the middle, and has bags of pace. Cain netted a hattrick against U’s in a friendly earlier this season. The 12th Man fund has supported the signing.

Two good wins this week, although with slightly underwhelming performances, have taken United back clear on top of the BSP. The game against Histon saw United create bags of chances, but only score twice. Against Rushden, chances were at a premium, but Oxford got the vital goal from the penalty spot late on. Now, a break from BSP action until midweek. Saturday sees the visit of Kidderminster in the FA Trophy quarter-final. Just three games from the final (the semi-finals are two legged), United have a decent chance of some Wembley glory. A league and cup double would be a fine way to end our non-league stay…..

Oxford United beat Rushden & Diamonds 1-0 last night to move three points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier.

Beano came back after suspension, as did Rushden star Lee Tomlin. Alfie Potter was the U’s to miss out with a hamstring injury.

The match can be summed up in five parts:

1. Average Oxford. United were at well under 100% in most areas of the pitch. Too many passes went astray, too many opportunities were gifted to Rushden, especially yet another woeful Rhys Day back header. Too little cohesion in the play all over the park. Beano missing another penalty summed it up nicely.
2. Awful Rushden finishing. Even when gifted opportunities they never really stretched Clarke. It also mostly came from our cock-ups, their creativity wasn’t great.
3. Awful pitch. Has it ever been worse since we moved ground? Not really helping the footy, of either team in this case.
4. Cynical Rushden. Rarely has a team not managed by Steve Evans wasted time so much. Every time the keeper got the ball, every throw in, every free-kick, every random player sitting down but not apparently needing the physio; right from the first whistle through to the point that the ball hit the back of their net. My personal favourite was their keeper running over to the corner flag for no apparent reason (confused as to where the ball was?!) when the ball was back by the goal at a goal-kick (he did also manage to run half way up the pitch to delay the penalty). When will we ever get a ref that books as many as he should for that?
5. Two penalties. The first I couldn’t see from the far end, but the tv highlights (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8520450.stm) show a pretty clear foul on Wright by Louis. Beano did his best Jonny Wilkinson impression to foil a half-time lead.
   The second seemed harsh at the time, and probably harsh on review. But the defender did have both arms around Green and was easily led into pulling him down. Adam Chapman showing great bottle, stepped up, ignored the gamesmanship, and blasted the ball down the middle for the winner.

Adam Chapman Blasts Home The Winner

So, we didn’t play great, we rode some luck, but we still won. Three points clear, with game in hand is a good position – playing a bit better would be nice though.

The Blue Square Premier was shaken up again, Oxford United returning to the top of the league after a 2-0 win over Histon.

The only thing that wasn’t changed was U’s team; the same team that faced Luton on Tuesday.

United played towards the East Stand in the first half, and were unlucky to be kept goal-less. Lots of chances and lots of corners all came to nothing. Histon were reduced to 10 men after a defender was given a straight red for bringing down Alfie Potter when clean through.

U’s grabbed an early goal in the second. Super Sammy Deering curling in a free-kick from distance that evaded everyone and went straight in.

LSD Celebrates His Goal

U’s second goal came late on after an awful howler by a Histon defender. Jack Midson was presented with the ball and squared selflessly for sub Matt Green to tap in.

A pleasing win was made all the better by news that Stevenage and York had lost. The results put Oxford back on top of the league with two games in hand.

MFW’s man of the match was the magnificent Hargreavesio. Involved in everything, leading by example.

Now onto a from Boxing Day 2 to the match that should have been Boxing Day 1; Rushden at the KasStad. We’ve at least got covers on the pitch now to make sure it’s on.

Two injury time goals rescued Luton’s season, giving them a comeback 2-1 win against United tonight. First half United played excellently, second half less so but grabbed a goal through Matt Green. United then let Luton push them back too much and took lots of pressure but looked to be holding firm. Then the ref indicated 5 minutes of injury time, Luton lifted, U’s didn’t respond. Two goals later; the first a header from a corner, the second straight in from a corner in the 6th minute of added time; and U’s had thrown it away.

First time in a while I’ve felt truly devastated by a result. Need a win on Saturday.