Oxford United 2 (Hunt, Basham), Rochdale 0

Much more like it!! In fact it's a real pity that only 4,546 were at the Kassam to witness it. If a few
more of the glory seekers at the Villa game had seen fit to part with a measly £12 quid they would have
happily parted with more, on the strength of this performance.
The masterstroke was the recall of Oldfield, and the retention of Whitehead as for the first time since the
injury to Bobby Ford there was a consistent link from midfield to attack.
However Rochdale provided the first chance of the game, former United maestro Simpson running strongly
with the defence backing off before shooting just wide form 18 yards.
The combative Beech had a shot turned away behind for a corner by Woodman before United took the game by the
scruff of the neck. Savage and Robinson combined well on the left to allow Robinson to fire in a curling
shot for the edge of the box that just missed going in at the top right hand corner.
The same combination set up Hunt to break the deadlock on 17 minutes.  Savage found Robinson and his
slide rule pass found Hunt 25 yards out on the left.
He beat a defender before firing passed Edwards into the bottom right hand corner.
Hunt nearly made a 2, two minutes later. Whitehead finding him on the left rewarded an erudite run by
Oldfield but his shot was well parried by Edwards.
Hunt charging in, was able only to shoot wide from 18 yards.
United had found their feet and were allowing Rochdale no time or space to move and Simpson was
cutting a forlorn figure, working hard to rally his players and plug the gaps on his own.
Basham ran through strongly, and under a challenge the ball squirted wide to Robinson, whose cross was
headed wide by McNiven, bundling in at the back post.
The goal excepted, the moment of the half came on 27 minutes when Whitehead received the ball 35 yards out,
looked up, and fired in a wicked shot which hit the crossbar, with Edwards utterly beaten.
Oldfield and Basham were combining beautifully, with Hunt and Whitehead winning everything in the midfield
but it was Rochdale who was to finish the half strongly.
Connor's cross was aimed behind the 3 centre halves, and with Platt baring down Robinson did well to whack
the ball away to safety.
United continued to dominate after the break. Another Robinson cross found Basham at the back of the box. He
hit it first time, scuffing it a little, and it wobbled wide, right of the post.
On 62 minutes we were treated to another Deano moment. Oldfield was brought down on the edge of the
box, and Whitehead bent the free kick round the wall, and Edwards had to dive full length to his left to
palm the ball away for a corner.
The winner was not long in coming. On 70 minutes a delightful move from the midfield found McNiven on the
right. Basham, running across his marker at the back post, met his cross and he headed powerfully past
Edwards into the East Stand goal.
Simpson was continuing to carry his side and 5 minutes later fired in a powerful shot that was
deflected making Woodman's save all the more praiseworthy.
As the clock ran down Oldfield found Hunt with a defence splitting through ball. His cross from the
right just evaded Basham at the back post.
Louis replaced Basham to hold the ball up and combined well with Oldfield to set up McNiven who shot
just wide from an acute angle.
Oxford finished the game at a canter running the ball into Rochdale's corners, running down the clock to
close off possibly the finest 90 minute performance this season. And to top it all, the attendance of Phil
Whitehead and the news that Leicester have sacked David Kemp. So one more time for old times sake, "KEMP
OUT!!!"
 

Oxford United Andy Woodman Scott McNiven Matt Robinson Matthew Bound Andy Crosby James Hunt Dave Savage Adi Viveash Dean Whitehead David Oldfield Steve Basham Subs Dave Waterman (for Savage 49) Paul Powell (for Whitehead 73) Roy Hunter Jefferson Louis (for Basham 84) Manny Omoyinmi Booking Whitehead 18 (foul)

Rochdale Neil Edwards Wayne Evans Gareth Griffiths Chris Beech Matt Doughty Paul Simpson Lee McEvilly Clive Platt Paul Connor Shane Candsdell-Sherriff Gavin Melaugh Subs Matthew Gilks Michael Oliver Kevin Townson Lee Duffy Rory Patterson (for McEvilly 63) Bookings None

Next Away to Dover Saturday 16th November 2002 FA Cup 1st Round



            
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