Report and Picture by Laurence Reade

Moor Green 1 (Stanley) Oxford United 3 (Townsley 3)

Believe it or not Ian Atkins was heard to utter, "Just because we've got a big man up front it doesn't mean
you have to woof it up front!!"
And once the U's worked that out, they took control of this entertaining encounter.

The U's tried another solution to the disappearing centre half dilemma by giving a trial to former
Brentford and Arsenal defender, Scott Marshall (below). He had a solid game before the heat and lack of match practice, caused him to depart on 55 minutes.

Moor Green made a blistering start and one Haarhoff chance fizzed wide before on 9 minutes (not Chris) Jai
Stanley's 25-yard thunderbolt into the bottom left corner gave Woodman no chance.
Oxford's supposed Lincoln XI were being run ragged as Lamey shoot just wide, and the 5 3 2 formation was
allowing no width going forward. Scott managed a weak shot straight at goalkeeper Rachel, but the first 15
minutes was all about the Moors.
The game turned when United's midfield, and in particular Whitehead and Townsley began to work
together and move the ball crisply.  Townsley was looking for any excuse to make late runs forward, and
on one occasion was brought down by Frain on the edge of the box. Townsley's free kick was blocked and Brown put the rebound over both bar and stand.
Disappointing, but United had found the way forward.
The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Whitehead's sterling work on the left allowed him to find Townsley on the edge of the box, and the tall Cumbrian fired home off the base of the right post.
United continued to make the ball do the work for the remainder of the half, which must have been a relief
to Woodman whose knee appeared to be still troubling him. Moor Green's sole effort of the remainder of the
half was a Petty shot that finished wide. The Southern leaguers had no answer to Whitehead and Townsley and the U's defence had learned to cope with the lively Haarhof.
The second half started in much the same fashion, with Oxford controlling play, with Scott, Alsop and
Townsley playing as a 3 pronged attack. Whitehead continued to probe, and his free kick found Alsop at
the back post but his header was caught by Rachel.
Another piece of Deano brilliance was a chip over the top of the Moor Green defence for Brown to run on to.
Rachel raced off his line and did enough to make Brown's effort dribble agonisingly wide.
The game changed irrevocably on 55 minutes when Hackett replaced Marshall. McNiven moved to Centre
Half and Hackett proceed to torture the Home defence and in particular John Frain.
With virtually his first touch Hackett produced a scintillating run on the right, left Frain for dead
before crossing low to Townsley.  Townsley made no mistake, side footing home on the volley, from the
edge of the box.
Another Hackett cross found Scott who managed only to shoot wide. It was obvious that today was Townsley's day. On 65 minutes he started the move that would finish off his hat trick. The U's played keep ball
across the defence before Townsley found Hackett who produced another scorching run before finding Townsley in exactly the same place as for his second. This time he blasted into the bottom right hand corner.
Hackett deserved a goal and it was unfortunate when on 68 minutes his curling shot hit the crossbar. Rawle
came on and his turn and shot hit the bar, but United were happy to finish to a canter .
Which hopefully should give the management plenty to think about.....
 

Next game vs Hellenic League XI at Abingdon United's ground, Sunday 3rd August 2003 kick off 3pm.