Oxford United 2 - 2 Hereford United

There was no shortage of controversy on this mild January afternoon as Oxford took on a struggling Hereford. The Bulls form has started to pick up after a slow start to the campaign and with Oxford's defeat to Crewe, Hereford should be feeling quietly confident. The turning down of a midweek offer linking a move to Swindon for Oxford hotshot James Constable has left the striker with a great deal of respect from his team mates and fans, the supporters making their voices heard, the chant "Beano" ringing out before the match.

It was Oxford who made the better start, some neat football produced, but with no end product, which has been the story for most of the season so far. Now, I don't like to blow my own trumpet, but when JP Pittman was 30 yards out with not many options, I feel my inspirational "SHOOT!" contributed to his decision making. And shoot he did. A drill into the bottom left corner any striker would be proud of sent 6,300 Oxford fans nuts.

Michael Duberry will remember this match for all the wrong reasons. His first blunder was on 32mins when an impressive run from Colbeck down the right hand side was finished off with a deadly cross into the 6 yard box, Duberry could do little about it other than slide the ball into the back of the Oxford net. Michael looked devastated but determined to make amends.

The rest of the first half mainly consisted of the Oxford wingers whipping in fantastic balls that the likes of Constable and Pittman  failed to convert. Alfie Potter's desire is commendable but he continues his bad form, Chris Wilder keeps faith in the youngster but the Yellow's fans are fast running low on it. It's a shame that earlier in the season the skilful young prospect Andy Howarth sustained an injury, Oxford look like a team lacking an exciting player.


During the second half the referee was the centre of much controversy. Two worthy penalty appeals for Oxford were turned down, nine times out of ten you'd see one of them given, but that wasn't the case as nor linesman or referee saw foul play. In my opinion, if that's anywhere outside the box, it's a foul, so why not in the box? Inconsistency from the officials. Oxford continued to make chances and looked like the club that was going to take all three points until Potter went off for new signing Oli Johnson, after this substitution was made the game lacked tempo and rapidity. However The U's continued to create chances, Simon Heslop forcing a phenomenal save from in form Hereford keeper, Bartlett. Chris Wilder then decided to take off play-maker Heslop, a decision I'm still trying to get to grips with. If anyone doubted Oxford were lacking tempo they certainly were now. An Oxford United corner saw Hereford break down the right, a good cross into the area was diverted into the net from none other than Michael Duberry. The travelling Hereford fans celebrated like there was no tomorrow, three points here today would help their push for safety.

The rate Oxford fans flooded out the stadium must have been a new record, but for those that stayed were in for a gripping finale. Corner after corner came for Wilder's men until one met Craddock, who layed it off to Duberry who slotted home with a right footed strike into the corner. Michael Duberry now had the imperfect hat-trick. However, no time for celebrations. The U's re-grouped and piled everyone forward, with the atmosphere at a high a ball forward to Constable left the striker with a free header! It was all set up for him, the transfer speculation, the last minute winner, the goal drought, but he headed wide.

As the ref blew for full time I can't help but feel these last two matches have been five points dropped for Oxford, if we want to challenge for an automatic promotion spot/play offs, we've got to take more of our chances. The next match is a six pointer, Burton sit two places below the Yellows, a win there will take the weight off many involved with Oxford United. As for Hereford they can be happy with a point, although disappointed to concede so late on, every point is precious when you're low in League 2, this could count for a lot towards the end of the season.

Attendance: 6,630
Man of the Match: Simon Heslop - Proved himself as a creative footballer today, keeping many big names out the team.
Ref: Williamson - Some dreadful decisions today, although kept the game running for as long as possible.
Match rating: ***

Oxford United 5 - 1 Plymouth Argyle

Oxford United returned to winning ways after a comfortable victory over rock bottom, Plymouth Argyle. Oxford will be trying desperately to secure a permanent contract with West Ham's Robert Hall, the youngster put The U's ahead after 15 minutes with a decisive strikers finish after the keeper failed to put the ball behind from an Alfie Potter header. Argyle saw themselves create many chances in the final third and were unlucky not to of grabbed a goal, Michael Duberry clearing off the line. The half time whistle gave Oxford the chance to re group, and consider how they're going to beat the stubborn Plymouth goalkeeper who hadn't been given any favours by his defence in the first half.

After the break Michael Duberry's high tackle from a corner was enough for the referee to award a penalty. In my opinion the tackle was unnecessary and from such an experienced defender, wreckless, he picked up a deserved yellow card along with Damian Batt for his protests and Simon Walton stepped up to take the penalty. Clarke dived the wrong way, 700 Plymouth fans took the roof off the Kassam and it was one apiece, game on.

The atmosphere in the stadium now was now rocking, both sets of fans bouncing chants off each other, and it seemed to spur Oxford on as they opened up the Greens defence, only to see save after save from in form keeper Jake Cole deny them of a second goal. But eventually Hall grabbed his second of the night, with an average cross to the edge of the area from Batt attacking down the right Hall did the rest with a delightful kick with his outstretched left boot sending the ball into the far left corner of the goal. The Oxford fans making their voices heard, "Sign him on" was the chant, and it seems they've got a point as constantly offside James Constable struggles to find the net, and Alfie Potter fails to make up for his disastrous performance against Gillingham last weekend, missing a one on one later on in the match.

In the 71st minute the two under fire came together to produce a third Oxford United goal, Davis' ball over the top saw Potter run on to it, who got the first touch and would've probably liked a goal himself if Constable    hadn't taken it off him to bury it in the corner passed the furious Argyle keeper. Oxford strolling now to a league win so important in this tightly packed League 2.

No obvious structure in the Argyle team meant Oxford ran rings round them, this doesn't mean the Argyle team lacked effort, they had plenty of that, they lacked composure and quality that at this level you need to win football matches. And their fate was sealed 12 minutes before the end when an exquisite curling chip from Peter Leven from the top left corner of the penalty box floated into the top right corner of the Plymouth goal, a beautiful goal any striker would be proud of. A goal many Oxford fans won't forget for a while.

Chris Wilder decided to substitute Robert Hall with 10 minutes to go, who received a well deserved standing ovation. Danny Philliskirk then came on to make his home debut, in the short time he was on he was able to show off his pace and movement on and off the ball, impressing many of the 7,802. Someone not impressing, however, was Oxford's right winger Alfie Potter, missing an absolute sitter, wanting too many touches before his shot, the keeper was able to come out and gather the ball. James Constable would teach him a lesson in finishing though and in the third minute of injury time buried a second goal for himself and a fifth for Oxford United. Jake Cole had a right to get angry with his defence, who seemed to give up in chasing Constable down before he slotted home, he scurried over to Gibson, pushed him, and if it wasn't for Nelson's intervention it could of got a lot uglier. The ref blew his whistle and, after shaking the Oxford player's hands the Argyle players went over to the loyal fans and threw their shirts into the crowd, a sign of intent from the players? Or an element of sympathy for the fans that have come all that way to watch their team get thrashed?

These are tough times for Plymouth, and I cant help but feel sorry for the fans, who deserve a lot better from a team who should be high flyers in other leagues, and the players who are without wages for another week because of this financial turmoil surrounding the club. As for Oxford they're main priority at the moment is signing on the hugely talented Robert Hall, who, in six games has bagged six goals for the yellows, talks have been continuing about extending his contract till the end of the season. But if all does not go to plan Oxford now have Danny Philliskirk on their team until the end of the season, and from his performance at this match it seems he could be a worthy replacement for Hall.

Oxford now sit 5th in a tightly congested League 2, this result will give them confidence going ahead of their next league game against Port Vale. As for Plymouth they sit bottom five points off safety.

Attendance - 7,802 (722 from Plymouth)
Man of the Match - Robert Hall
Ref - Peter Gibbs, a good performance by the man in charge today, handing out cards where necessary and awarding a penalty kick at the right moment. Seemed quite inconsistent with some challenges however.
Match Rating - ****/*****

By: Michael Roberson 26/10/2011