Lee Clarke stretches the Oxford defence.
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With the accolade of 6,190 spectators reverberating around the magnificent Kassam Stadium last Friday Oxford United climbed to the summit of the Nationwide Conference but not before the relative paupers of St Albans City demonstrated they have the potential to do more than merely survive in their first season amongst the full-timers seeking entry to the Football League.
Jim Smith’s side were probably more decisive winners than the final score may suggest but there were times when Colin Lippiatt’s Saints not only frustrated but troubled Bald Eagle’s high flyers. When United were reduced to ten men with Chris Hargreaves 67th minute dismissal, the match was still goalless and the vast home attendance momentarily contemplated the unthinkable.
Such fears proved unfounded as, strangely, City appeared more distracted by the sending off and within two minutes a lapse in concentration contributed to the opening goal. Remarkably, City wiped out that deficit with just seven minutes remaining but again their hopes were almost immediately extinguished as the U’s notched a glorious winner; heartbreak for the Saints but great entertainment for the fans.
Oxford gave a debut to Marvin Robinson and prior to sustaining an excruciating hand injury the former Macclesfield Town striker led the City defence a merry dance. City’s Damian Butt also performed well at right back on his debut while substitute Magnus Okuonghae endured a shaky start.
United were nearly ahead inside 20 seconds when Rob Duffy latched onto a through ball from the outstanding Andy Burgess only to be thwarted by Paul Bastock who did well to block for a corner. Bastock also saved well on 13 minutes when pushing Carl Pettefer’s 25-yard shot onto the crossbar, Duffy bundled in the rebound but was ruled offside.
Having been on the back foot for the opening 20 minutes City at last forced their way forward with Matt Hann having a shot blocked before a sweeping Saints move culminated with Paul Hakim sliding a wonderful ball into the box that Hann stuck away only for another raised flag to curtail his celebration.
As Oxford returned to the offensive Hargreaves headed over, Burgess sent a free kick straight through to Bastock, Gary Elphick superbly tackled Yemi Odubade as a goal beckoned and Lee Flynn got in a crucial header as the brilliant Eddie Anaclet waited to head home from a corner.
In the closing minutes of the half Anaclet cut between Flynn and Adam Wilde before drilling the ball across the face of the goal while Odubade saw his well-struck effort pushed over by Bastock. Just four minutes after the restart and the brilliant Bostonian Bastock was in action again to smartly catch Burgess well placed curler from 30 yards.
Oxford’s vocal support were starting to get edgy as City’s resistance showed little sign of crumbling and with a good move Flynn, Wilde and Hakim created space for Lee Clarke to send in a miscued tame effort. The first chink in City’s defensive armour appeared on 65 minutes when a slight hamstring injury forced the departure of Elphick who had hardly put a foot wrong. Coming on for his debut during such an occasion was tough on Okuonghae who started unconvincingly but quickly settled alongside Theobald and just behind Seeby who was doing an excellent job just in front of the back four.
Two minutes later the game, which was keenly but always cleanly contested, was rocked when referee Nick Kinseley sent off Hargreaves for a high challenge on Tom Davis. The incident occurred when City were looking composed and confident but two minutes later a lapse in the middle of the City defence allowed Duffy to help on Chris Willmott’s long ball to Odebade who smartly clipped his third goal of the season to Bastock’s left.
City immediately replaced Batt with striker Simon Martin but even with the added attacking power and numerical advantage a Saints equaliser came as something of a surprise. Seeby ran unchallenged from the right through the U’s half until having a shot charged out for a corner. Wilde, a touch erratic with his delivery over the past couple of matches, hit the right spot this time with Theobald stretching to head home to Billy Turley’s left from ten yards.
With that goal on 83 minutes the Saints followers made their presence heard with real vigour but within a minute Oxford defender Matt Day rode three not very convincing tackles before sending a screaming effort from 15 yards high to Bastock’s left for the winning strike.
Oxford almost added a third in the limited time remaining with a fine long-range shot from Eddie Hutchinson striking the City crossbar.
Report by David Tavener. |
