MincheryFarmWeb

Chris Wilder has been busy getting players signed early doors in the close season.

Midfielder Asa Hall signed from Luton. The 23 year-old signed a 2 year deal.

Loanee Wizard Alfie Potter signed a permanent deal for United.

York right-back ben Purkiss has signed a 2 year deal. The defender put in the cross that Ryan Clarke dropped in for York’s play-off final goal.

Former U’s loanee Stevie Kinniburgh has signed from Rangers. The young left-back signed a 2 year deal.

U’s are trying to sign Matt Green and Jake Wright. Green is out of contract at Torquay, but they have offered him a new contract in an attempt to get compensation as he is under 24. Greeny is off on holiday with Beano, so likely nothing will be sorted out in the next week or so. Jake Wrigth is rumoured to be close to signing, but the details have to be worked out with Brighton.

Going out are: Billy Turley, Kevin Sandwith, Chris Hargreaves & Franny Green. Loanees Lewis Chalmers and John Grant have gone back to parent club Aldershot. Jamie Cook has been made available for transfer.
MFW wishes all the best for the future, but especially the legend that is Billy Turley – his YouTube channel really sums him up!

Oxford United are back in the Football League after beating York City 3-1 in the play-off final at Wembley.

There , will be much written about the game, and I will mostly leave the words to others. Suffice to say that goals from Matt Green, James Constable and Alfie Potter, all with great finishes, sent the U’s travelling masses into rapture.

It is a great achievement for the club, in arguably the most important match in the club’s history. To be back in the league is vitally important in every way. MFW wants to thank everyone involved for an amazing day (including the group of York fans we met in London after who were great sports, very gracious, and a credit to their club).

Over the next few posts I will put up some of the  pictures taken during the day…

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 moved to within a point of securing a play-off spot with a 1-0 win over Salisbury at the KasStad today. An 86th minute Alfie Potter headed goal overcame an obdurate Salisbury side that were ably assisted by a buffoon referee and his comic assistants.

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…..