Nuneaton Borough 2 (Murphy, Collins) Oxford United XI 1 (McCargo)

     An odd game this; if United had sent anything remotely resembling a first eleven here then they
would have probably romped home. As it was, they were unable to boss the midfield and the attack was
manifestly unable to convert what chances game.
     Euphemistically speaking, the U's used an experimental starting line up, combining a lot of
youth, triallists Mick Lomax (centre half), Van Dommele, Widdrington, and Paul Powell, but also had
the vast experience of Darren Patterson and David Oldfield to call upon.
      The first action saw Powell do well to find Widdrington, but Acton easily caught the resulting
shot.
    Nuneaton were playing all the football with Gez Murphy as tormentor in chief, only Patterson seemed to
have the strength to keep him at bay. Van Dommele headed one dangerous cross behind for a corner, before
the U's were able to respond when Blackstock beat two players at the left by-line but having done all the
hard work squared poorly and the chance was lost.
    Nuneaton quickly re-established their superiority and were showing that a 5 3 2 formation can supply
crosses by the bucket load if only the will is there.
One found Brown at the back post ahead of Van Dommele but he took the more difficult option with his header, he put it wide!
   If the back line looked weak, this was to be no reflection on goalkeeper Cox who was having another
impressive performance. On 35 minutes Murphy outpaced Lomax before racing into the box but Cox did well to get down and block his shot. Nuneaton spent the rest of the half camped in Oxford's final third but with
the U's finding ways to block, sometimes by good judgement but often by good luck.
Omoyinmi went down in the box claiming a penalty in the final few seconds but this was the home side's
half.
United started the second half with a decent chance.
Oldfield's incisive through ball found Blackstock who checked to beat his defender but fired straight at the
goalkeeper. Normal service was quickly resumed as Whitaker fired wide and Cox did well to block
Corbett's shot after the forward had been allowed to be put clean through.
It was inevitable that Nuneaton would break the deadlock and on 65 minutes Murphy was put clean
through and this time he made no mistake, hammering home into the top right corner.
Three minutes later the lead was doubled, as Murphy turned provider. He beat Van Dommele on the right
before launching a glorious cross, which a diving Collins headed into the left corner, giving Cox no
chance. It was as much as Nuneaton deserved.
Omoyinmi then produced what will almost certainly be (hopefully!) miss of the season. A typically erudite
ball from Oldfield put him clean through, but Acton did well to stand up. Clearly not knowing what to do
next Omoyinmi took the "Neither" option and saw his weak shot blocked. It was a fair summary of his time
at United.
Cooper then made a good Sheringham-esque late run at a corner ad saw his header flash wide of the post before a stunning 30-yard blast from Fitzpatrick hit the bar.
Lovegrove replaced Ciampoli and his strong run into the box was only stopped by a strong Angus challenge.
I have come to expect nothing other than commitment form the former Fulham and Northampton man.
Omoyinmi's cross to McCargo caused chaos disproportionate to the two players diminutive
statures, before with a minute to go United gained a little consolation in somewhat bizarre circumstances.
A simple lump forward from the U's defence found little McCargo about a foot between two huge centre
halves. Unbelievably, the ball evaded both big men and bounced off of the top of the triallist's head and
looped over Acton and apologetically into the net.
There was few seconds' stunned silence!
There remained only enough time for a Murphy shot to sting Cox's hands and for Jefferson Louis to amble
back to the changing rooms, contemplating his imminent move.

Att 414