Oxford United thrashed League 1 Bristol Rovers 6-1 at the KasStad tonight in the Carling Cup.

United outclassed their higher league opponents to an almost embarrassing degree as, apart from the first ten minutes, they ripped poor Bristol Rovers apart.

Simon Heslop scored two, and was probably man-of-the-match on his home debut. Beano netted twice, the second a sublime acrobatic volley. Jack Midson and Matt Green got the others. The best Rovers could get was a Lines goal straight from kick-off after U’s had scored their second.

Not sure I can really mentally process the game at the moment, I can’t really believe it was so one sided. More tomorrow, together with a match photo gallery. For now, here’s Matt Green scoring the second…

Matt Green Nets U's Second Goal

Oxford United were unlucky to lose out to a Manchester United reserve team on Tuesday night.

U’s started slowly, but dominated the second half. Man Utd had an early chance to take the lead, but Eikram’s penalty was saved by Ryan Clarke. They did take the lead just before half-time, Eikram slotting a free-kick under the jumping wall past Clarke. Within a minute U’s were level. U’s broke straight forward and Hall crossed for Beano to finish. 1-1 at half-time.

United played some excellent football in the second half, over-running the MU kids. Only some slightly slack finishing, and help from the officials stopped Oxford from putting them to the sword. Blatantly incorrect offsides were given, a cast-iron penalty was denied, free-kicks were given to MU defenders for little reason. It was sods law then that Man Utd grabbed a late winner. A soft free-kick was awarded, when the ball was crossed in the linesman raised his flag, but then lowered it again as Ajose fired home.

Good performance from Oxford though.

Some photos here.

Oxford United’s pre-season continued with a 1-1 draw against Leicester City this afternoon.

The first home pre-season game saw strong line-ups for both teams at kick-off. Leicester edged the first half, and took the lead through a curling DJ Campbell free-kick on 20 minutes. Jake Wright came off late in the half after picking up a knock making a tackle, Leigh Franks his replacement.

U’s enjoyed more of the  game in the second half, and a fine flowing move brought the equaliser on 73 minutes. Green, Bulman and Heslop were all involved to set up Beano to net from within the 6 yard box. Leicester could have nabbed a late winner, but a draw was good reward for United against the Championship play-off semi-finalists.

The attendance was 2770, U’s team: Clarke, Batt, Creighton (Worley 84), Wright (Franks h/t), Tonkin, Heslop (Kinniburgh 84), Bulman, Hall, Potter (Green 57), Constable (Midson 73), Deering (Cole 61).

Oxford United started their pre-season program with a 6-2 win at Didcot Town tonight.

U’s 1st Half XI:
Clarke, Batt, Franks, Wright, Kinniborough, Hall, Heslop, Bulman, Midson, Green, Woodley.

U’s netted first early on with Matt Green scoring from a Hall pass. Didcot equalised through Bartley.

U’s 2nd Half XI:
Eastwood, Purkiss, Creighton, Owen, Tonkin, Baker, Potter, Crockford, Deering, Cole, Constable

Young Henry Owen scored the second after Beano’s header was blocked. Trialist Ryan Crockford scored the third with a long-range shot.
Didcot pulled one back after an error from new ‘keeper Simon Eastwood let in Cannon. Two goals from Mitchell Cole, and a Beano header from a Cole cross completed the scoring.

James Constable has been appointed Oxford United club captain.Beano picked up the armband last season with Adam  Murray’s lengthy injury absence, and captained U’s in the Wembley play-off final. He has now been officially appointed club captain.

Jake Wright has been named Beano’s deputy.

United went back to a 4-3-3 with Beano, Midson and Matt Green up front, and showed a bit of the early season form, winning 2-0 against Mansfield. The midfield also showed signs of the beginning of the season, Clist and Bulman joined by Chapman in the Adam Murray role. Mansfield were missing Luke Foster due to the agreement as part of his transfer, Andy Burgess started at left-back, Rob Duffy up front.

United passed and moved well, probably for the first time since the Wimbledon game. Damian Batt looked back to form bombing forward. Players player of the year Dannie Bulman back to his best, linking well with Clist to give Adam Chapman room to pass the ball with skill and vision. The introduction of Deering and Potter in the second half was the real spark though. Mansfield just couldn’t cope with their runs and movement.

U’s two goals came relatively late. On 75 minutes Alfie Potter left Burgess on the floor and fed Sam Deering. Breaking through the middle Sam’s shot was well saved by Marriott, but the ball broke to James Constable who fired home from inside the 6 yard box. With around 5 minutes left the same two players were responsible for the second. Deering ran into the area and squared the ball for Constable. Beano turned, and with the help of a looping deflection beat Marriott for 2-0.

2-0, a good performance and a well deserved win. The stats of 26 attempts on goal to Mansfield’s 4 says everything. Duffy was ineffectual and subbed. Burgess was made to look foolish repeatedly by U’s wide play. A good time for U’s to come back into form.

Oxford United overcame a stubborn Altrincham side to win 1-0 yesterday. Beano scored after Creighton flicked on a Chappers corner. Not only back to back wins, but the first set piece goal in recent memory.
United now go in to a run of three home games in 7 days, plus a final day seaside trip to the seaside, as Wilder’s boys look to haul themselves back into form in time for the play-offs.

Oxford United were reliant on an injury time winner from Matt Green to overcome a stubborn, but poor Gateshead side at the KasStad today.

Chris Wilder brought Adam Chapman, Lewis Chalmers, Jamie Cook and Sam Deering into the starting line-up. Alfie Potter returned from injury to the bench.

United started brightly, but Gateshead harried and chased, and wore U’s down. Little of note came from either side.

U’s went ahead 7 minutes into the second half. A long throw from Chalmers was knocked down by Day, Beano was on hand to stab home from 6 yards. The lead lasted just 4 minutes however as Gateshead struck back with a controversial equaliser. From a free-kick on the left, Swailes header was cleared off the line by the excellent Wright. The ball ran to Armstrong whose shot arrowed into the net from the edge of the area. The linesman immediately flagged for offside, Clare adjudged to be interfering with play in front of Clarke. The Gateshead players argued, the ref consulted the linesman, and overruled him, allowing the goal.

Aggrieved by the manner of the goal, U’s charged forward and forced a number of corners, but created few clear-cut chances. Pushing forward, U’s left gaps at the back, and should have been punished when the diving Armstrong broke clear, but drove wide.

U’s brought on Potter, Green and Grant as they looked to grab the vital winning goal. But all was looking grim until injury time. Clist put in a free-kick, Beano and Grant helped the ball on, and Matt Green was in the right place to finish. As unlikely a winner as the York game on the opening day of the season, but all that will be remembered at the end of the season will be the 3 points.

Now onto the biggest game of U’s season, Stevenage at the LameX Stadium on Tuesday.

Match gallery below, click on thumbnail for bigger version.

Just a quick post with some thoughts last night’s game against AFC Wimbledon.

I won’t really go into match reporting, I can just leave that to the Wimbledon website, whose great report can be found here. Not much you can add to that. MFW’s match gallery is here. The BBC highlights are here.

What I will say is that was one of the best Oxford United performances in ages. Right from the start U’s were out of the blocks and attacking Wimbledon. For the first 20-25 minutes U’s battered them, with Little Sammy Deering at the heart of most things. Scoring was important, Beano scoring was too, and on 14 minutes we got both. Wimbledon came back into things as the half went on, but were mainly kept to wild long shots.

The second half was about as one sided affair as I’ve seen against a team quite as decent as Wimbledon. Even before the sending off the Wombles had little of the play – indeed sub keeper Turley apparently only touched the ball 6 times. The defence were solid, the midfield bossed the game – Hargreavsio was immense, and the forwards stretched their defence. The only thing missing was more goals than just the second for Beano late on.

Great game, great result, 6 points clear. Now possibly (though hopefully not) onto Chester on Saturday, and Cambridge on Tuesday. Decision about expelling Chester will be made on Friday, hopefully in time for U’s to leave in good time. Even if Chester aren’t expelled though, it must be considered unlikely the game will go ahead – players, police and others still being unpaid.

Oxford United beat AFC  Wimbledon 2-0 at the KasStad tonight to move 6 points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier.

United played some great football, entirely bossing the second half. A goal in each half from James Constable gave U’s the win, but United dominated much of the match (as the stats testify).

Beano Celebrates His Second Goal

More thoughts, and a photo gallery later on…..

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