Aldershot Town 0 Oxford United 3 (Scott 2 Crosby (PEN))

This was a game so good that the Oxford fans even stopped complaining about the £10 entry fee. As it
turned out it represented excellent value for money as both sides played good football and United stepped up
several gears to soundly beat their Conference hosts.
In fact the only downside was the groin injury suffered by Eze Iriekpen, which probably has stopped
him from getting a contract.
With the light rain coming down, the surface was fast and lush and Warburton headed a well worked Aldershot free kick narrowly wide.
A feature of the game was to be excellent crossing by both sides and McNiven set the tone, by finding Scott
at the back post but the header went across the goal and wide. Aldershot responded with Sills doing exactly
the same heading manoeuvre with Woodman utterly beaten On 29 minutes a Brown corner was poorly cleared.
McNiven's run and chip in was just about cleared by Warburton with Scott hovering dangerously.
Another good McNiven cross was headed over by Townsley before on 26 minutes United took the lead, and it came as no surprise that Andy Scott was the scorer. He capitalised on a mistake by left back Hooper, and
seeing Barnard off his line, coolly chipped him from the left edge of the box.
The U's were in full control of the game with Townsley pulling all the strings and Hunt snapping and snarling
in the middle, winning everything. Aldershot's principle danger man was the nippy D'Sane and a
goalmouth scramble saw his shot header up and over the bar by Bound.
On 41 minutes United doubled their lead and once again, Scott was heavily involved. Gedling brought him
down needlessly in the box and so it was a simple task for Crosby to stroke home the penalty, putting to rest
the ghost of Coventry.
D'Sane had a long shot caught well by Woodman but this was United's game to control as they saw fit.
The second half continued in exactly the same fashion.
Scott run on the left and cross found Townsley who inexplicably put his free header wide. That is not to
say that Aldershot were not continuing to pass the ball and generally play we. Sills' header on the run
went just wide and soon after a Bound mistake allowed the forward found him clear in the box but Woodman was quickly off his line to smother.
United made it 3 0 on 61 minutes. Whitehead, who had only just come on, ran powerfully down the right and
found Scott unmarked at the back of the box. Scott had enough time to tee the ball up with his chest before
smashing home with great gusto.
It was still end to end stuff as D'Sane's low shot was turned behind by Woodman, but United were holding
their shape well, showing the resilience of last season.
Basham came on and found himself on the end of a glorious diagonal ball from Scott. He fired home and
was disappointed to find himself marginally offside.
Aldershot continued to create chances and United switched to 3 5 3 with the introduction of Rawle and
Oldfield. Rawle showed the same determination that his hosts continued to display but despite a Gedling free
kick being tipped over, United were destined to keep a clean sheet.
The final action saw an astute ball by Oldfield to Rawle on the left. He whipped in a cross which the
defence nodded behind with Basham an interested party.