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Match Report by Laurence Reade. Back to news page Oxford United 1 (Basham) Darlington 1 (Hodgson) Oxford United managed to frustrate themselves and their fans last night by failing to finish off a poor Darlington side that got precisely what they came for. Hunter replaced the suspended McNiven with Hunter's midfield spot filled by Dean Whitehead. Oxford created the early pressure with Louis nodding out to Whitehead whose shot was charged down by Clarke. Darlington saw Louis as their most worrying threat and he was elbowed in the face off the ball, and sadly the former Thame man was never the same player afterwards, sticking too much to the flanks and so never looking like scoring. On 8 minutes Louis crossed after a good run which Clarke did well to clear with Basham in close attendance. Darlington were sporadic with their forays into the Oxford half, their principle threat coming from their on loan (Newcastle) striker Richard Offiong, and on 11 minutes he shot wide following a poor clearance form Crosby. United attacked once again, and a good Robinson cross was met by Basham but his weak shot was easily gathered by Collett. Oxford were having the vast majority of the possession but as often has been the case, were unable to effectively find the forwards who were failing to operate as a unit, with Louis in particular looking isolated. Louis headed a Savage cross straight at Collett, before Savage himself fired over the bar. On 31 minutes there was a moment of genuine controversy as Ford whipped in an in swinging free kick. Liddle appeared to pull down Louis but referee Crick waved away the penalty appeals. The half finished with United searching in vain for a moment of inspiration that could open up the Quakers' defence; none occurred. It's unusual for Oxford to start a half with a goal, we usually need to warm up, but on this occasion it took only 3 minutes. Basham received the ball on the central edge of the box. He turned and skipped past Liddle before spearing a shot past Collett into the bottom right corner. What should have happened next is that Oxford should have capitalised on the fact that the Quakers had to come out and chase the game. Apart form a Louis run that ended when he played the ball too far forward allowing Collett to gather, United allowed their visitors to come at them and for the first time show genuine ambition. Nicholls crossed from the right and Offiong allowed the ball to hit his shoulder when unmarked and with the goal at his mercy. Savage worked hard at the edge of the Quakers' box and found Whitehead who blasted over the bar. Oldfield replaced the out of sorts Louis and worked hard to create a link between midfield and attack. Wainwright was played clear on the right but fired wide of Woodman's right post when in all honestly he should have done so much better. On 74 minutes Ford played Oldfield in on the edge of the box but his shot as gathered by Collett with some difficulty. Most fans were beginning to treat the game as a hard earned but uninspiring 3 points when Hodgson gave the U's defence a hint of things to come by firing in a fierce shot from the edge of the box which Woodman dived to save and Bound was able to hack clear. Darlington upped the ante by going 4 3 3, and only a superb Robinson tackle on the edge of the box stopped Offiong getting in a clear shot. On 87 minutes came the choker. The U's defence backed off too much and Hodgson 25 yards out on the left, hit an unstoppable blockbuster, which flew over a despairing Woodman into the top right hand corner. And that I'm afraid was it. Lack of ambition it probably was, and also probably a mental block in not treating the game as 0-0 when at 1-0. For me the over riding feeling is that room must be found for a flair player such as Hackett or Powell at home. If that means 4 4 2 then so be it. I shouldn't complain too much though. Compare the situation to last season..
Next Hartlepool Away Saturday
18th January 2003
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