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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.

Oxford United reached 60 points, and regained first place in the league, but made hard work of things against a resolute Kidderminster side at the KasStad yesterday.

The game was only the third league game of 2010, and United are still finding their new year feet. The lack of games so far is in stark contrast to the rest of the season which sees at least 7 games a month, plus up to another 3 if we progress in the FA Trophy.

For around twenty minutes yesterday, I was enjoying an end-to-end game, with a referee that seemed to want to let the game flow and play positive advantage. Thinking that was of course the kiss-of-death. From there the ref and his colleagues turned into a seeming random decision generating machine, including denying United two penalties – one of which was the clearest cut push in the area. Inconsistency was the name of the game; for United first offences were punished, whereas Kiddy got away with half-a-dozen.

Frustratingly for United, it was an off day going forward. Beano had one of those days, isolated, caught endlessly offside, and booked yet again; though at least this time not for use of his mouth; reaching 10 bookings and a 2 game ban. Cook, Midson and Deering all missed good chances to score.

All in all it was a strange day. Frustrating performance, slightly disappointing draw, cheered by going top after Stevenage were defeated by Telford (and having two sent off). Tuesday brings a real test of character for United – a trip to Kenilworth Road to face a Luton side desperate for points (and revenge). If we play like yesterday we are going to be lucky to get a point.