Oxford United 2 (Crosby pen, Omoyimni)
     Bury 1 (Clegg)


   The first game of last season saw United lose 2-1to a Rochdale side which looked at best ordinary.
Today United beat a side which bore many similarities to Mark Wright's team.
   Confidence will, early on, be hugely important to the class of 2002/3 and it was of no surprise that
Bury started the more brightly with the impressive Connell putting Newby through but he was forced wide
and out of danger.
    In the first 15 minutes Bury moved the ball well and created the vast majority of the chances with
Connell controlling the supply from the midfield.
Good defending, and profligate shooting from forward Abbot kept the scoresheet blank.United's one
meaningful chance came in the 8th minute when a Whitehead in swinging corner was met by Oldfield,
His shot was pushed round the post by goalkeeper Garner.
    The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute when an innocuous ball into the Bury box was needlessly
handled by Lee Unsworth, and Referee Messias had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
   There seemed to be some discussion as to who would take the kick so Crosby, ever the captain strode up
and sent Garner the wrong way putting the ball into the top right hand corner.


   We only had to wait another 4 minutes for the move of the match. Oldfield in the centre circle flicked
the ball to Whitehead on the right. His first time pass bisected the left back and centre half finding
Omoyinmi whose right footed shot beat Garner inside his right post for the comfort of a 2 goal lead.
    Perhaps Referee Messias also likes the comfort of a 2 goal lead. His attempts to overcontrol a good
natured game broke up the play so Bury seemed increasingly to see their best chance of recovering
something as being via set pieces.
    After 38 minutes an inswinging free kick from the right by Clegg found Abbot and Woodman had to dive
full length to push his header round his right post.
     The second half was a more scrappy affair, not helped by more unsympathetic refereeing. Bobby Ford
replaced Savage(Hamstring) on 48 minutes.
His pinpoint passing aided the forwards particularly Omoyimni but the defence missed Savage's cover.
      In the 51st minute Whitehead's free kick was easily caught by Garner moving to his right.
      Bury were looking increasingly dangerous and on 64 minutes a through ball found substitute George but
his low shot was well parried by Woodman for a corner.
This was whipped in by Clegg resulting in goalmouth melee which United did well to clear.
     This roused United and good work by Hunt and excellent movement by Omoyinmi put the diminutive
forward through down the right. Only a fine sliding tackle by Unsworth prevented the former West Ham man
from getting a clear shot on goal.
     As the clock ran down Bury pushing more players forward made for a more open game and on 72 minutes
Newby's header fortuitously deflected off of Crosby away when Woodman looked in trouble.
     A minute later Connell's through ball found Abbot. His shot forced a good save from Woodman.
     United were still attempting to go forward but with the forwards sitting back, good work from
fullbacks Robinson and McNiven often found no-one in the box at the end of their runs.
     The regular supporter knows that watching Oxford United is never straightforward,and this game was to
be no different. This time the end game was to involve a moment of brilliance and two pieces of dubious
refereeing.
     In the 80th minute Omoyimni was put clean through and was clearly tripped in the box by Swailes. To the
amazement of all (including, one suspects Swailes) Messias booked the forward for diving.
     6 minutes later Bury gave themselves a lifeline.
Clegg received the ball wide on the right. He cut in and smashed a 25 yard shot past Woodman's right post,
and a nervous last 4 minutes was assured.
     It was inevitable that the referee would get the last word on the contest and in the final minute he
took his chance. Abbot was put clean through and fell in the box under Crosby's challenge. It's hard to say
whether his challenge was fair but Messias booked him for diving and Bury's last chance had gone.
     This was a game that last season United would have undoubtedly lost. Speaking to supporters
afterwards, some felt there is little difference between this season's team and last's. Confidence is
key but the new team moves the ball better and is mentally stronger. We will know more on Tuesday
evening and we owe Denis one!

Oxford United 4 4 2                        Bury 5 3 2
Andy Woodman                                Glyn Garner
Scott McNiven                                  Matt Barrass
Matt Robinson                                  Steve Redmond
Andy Crosby                                     Danny Swailes
Matthew Bound                                Jamie Stuart
David Waterman                               Lee Unsworth
James Hunt                                       Martyn Forrest
Dean Whitehead                               Lee Connell
Dave Savage                                     George Clegg
Manny Omoyinmi                             Pawel Abbot
David Oldfield                                  Jon Newby

Subs
Sam Ricketts                                     Micheal Nelson
Bobby Ford (for Savage 48)              Andy Preece
Andy Scott (for Oldfield 84)             Paul O'Shaughnessy
Steve Basham (for Omoyinmi 90)    Nicky Hill
Chris Hackett                                    Liam George (for Barras 54)

Bookings
Savage 42 (foul)                                Barras 39 (foul)
Waterman 79 (foul)                           Abbot 90 (diving)
Omoyinmi 80 (diving)




            
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