Oxford United 0 Scunthorpe United 1 (Beagrie (pen) )

So, back to earth with a bump then. I’d thought we could have taken the progress made at York and
Charlton and used it to give a distinctly ordinary Scunthorpe the beating they deserved. In fairness
though they played the perfect away performance, crowding the midfield, completely stifling the supply
to the forwards.
Atkins brought in Gavin Gordon for a home debut which surprised no one but surprised everyone by using him
in place if Oldfield who had to be content with a place on the bench. That decision was to cost Oxford
dear, as this was not a case of an a visiting goalkeeper having an inspired afternoon, rather a side
being sharp and cutting out the supply route, as Oxford have done all season AWAY FROM HOME. Still,
Jefferson Louis didn’t make the final 16 at all.
Another question is why didn’t Steele feature, after all he didn’t play for the reserves on Wednesday, have
we got another McGuckin like walking sick note on our Hands?
The visitors started brightly with Beagrie raining in the crosses that the defence true to form dealt with
great aplomb. From the start referee Hill decided to make himself the centre of attention blowing up for
the slightest nudge, and booking Hunt for a minor display of dissent.
It took until the 12th minute for Oxford to mount a meaningful attack; Gordon took the ball on the left
and crossed in low just in front of Scott sliding in.
His nudged effort was defected by Goalkeeper Evans for a corner.
A minute later Savage took the ball at the half way line and fought his way through the midfield to get
right through into the box. Never completely in control his shot was smothered by Evans as he tried to
go round him.
Gordon’s strength and pace was causing Scunthorpe real problems and a typically rampaging run resulted
in a strong challenge sending him tumbling in the box.
The referee waved away claims for a penalty, but he was to be far less lenient later. Inconsistency is the
killing what little respect match officials ever had.
After Beagrie had blasted a free kick over the bar, Sparrow’s shot hit Carruthers 6 yards out with Woodman
stranded. The game was degenerating into a terse midfield battle and it was becoming obvious that a
single goal would settle this encounter.
On 31 minutes Chris Day’s valiant attempt to make it through to the break without using the toilet ended
with a nippy dash down the steps. He was to miss nothing.
Beagrie shot over from the centre 18 yards out, with a pass to Torpey the better option, then a minute
later Sparrow shot over from exactly the same position. Oxford were passing nicely but the forward
line was not working as a unit (too much space between Gordon and Scott) and Scunthorpe were performing the
basics well, closing down quickly and taking advantage when Oxford overplayed the ball. Bobby Ford was easily
the best player on show, but had to restrict himself to balls out to the wing, as there was no David
Oldfield to link up play. Neither Gordon nor Scott seemed able to this. Scott in particular was
disappointing. He had looked badly injured on Tuesday and seemed only semi fit on this occasion. He has
looked subdued at he Kassam all season, and when he went down after a collision holding his ribs just
before halftime his reappearance after the break was all the more baffling.
The half concluded with Sparrow blasting wide following a surging run from Calvo-Garcia and Crosby
heading wide of the back post following a Ford corner.
Clearly Atkins had gave the players the proverbial rocket at half time because Oxford started the second
half brightly, breaking quickly from defence to find Gordon who immediately played over the top to Scott
but Jackson challenged well to end the chance.
After 52 minutes another ball into the offside resulted in Viveash injured as Torpey fired home from
an offside position, but the Reading man recovered after treatment. Hopefully his transfer will be made
permanent this week.
The action was fast and furious with Robinson blasting over s free kick just outside the box when
everyone expected Bobby Ford to placed it in the bottom right corner, and McCombe as booked for a
scuffle with Gordon when a more consistent referee could have sent him off. On reflection we did not need
another Joe Ross for this particular fixture. All this was mere filler for the most contentious moment and
pivotal moment of the match.
On 57 minutes Sparrow crossed into the box from the left and Hunt was adjudged by the linesman to have
handled and gave the penalty which Beagrie slotted neatly into the bottom left corner sending Woodman the
wrong way. No one in the East Stand could see what the penalty was for, and nether could Ian Atkins.
Significantly the Visiting supporters sat behind the linesman did not go up as one might expect and the
referee seemed better placed to make the decision.
Mind you I’ve been complaining for some time that referees have been ignoring their linesmen. Now I know
why!!
Two minutes later Hunt shot over the bar as Chris Day showed his frustration by having his second half
toilet break at least 10 minutes early.
Omoyinmi replaced the increasingly ineffective Savage and made an immediate impact by making a good run down
the right before crossing to Scott whose header was deflected for a corner. Oxford were piling on the
pressure with Gordon continuing to look dangerous, nodding back for McNiven to whack the chance over the
bar. When will we ever learn to keep the ball down?
On 65 minutes a deft dinked ball from Ford found Gordon who went down under a heavy challenge from
McCombe. The ball deflected away for a corner as the East Stand bayed for a penalty that was not
forthcoming. Gordon got to his feet only after treatment.
Sensing more than the solitary point they had come for, Scunthorpe put still more effort into crowding
the midfield and however much Oxford huffed and puffed the gap between midfield and forward line was too big
to bridge.
In the 82nd minute Hunt passed the ball into Gordon in the box (as usual). He nodded back to Scott who
blasted over. How long until Steve Basham’s fit?
Scunthorpe counter attacked with Carruthers running well on the left before squaring to an unmarked Torpey
whose shot was well gathered by Woodman low down.
A desperate Oxford were throwing the ball forward at every opportunity bypassing the stifled midfield which
is not the U’s most effective tactic when the PFA player of the month is in that position.
With 2 minutes left Omoyinmi put in another cross from the left that caused chaos in the Iron’s defence.
Both Hunt and Scott slid in to try to poke the ball home but somehow Evans managed to gather.
In the final minute another ball found Gordon who nodded back to Omoyinmi but the diminutive striker’s
shot was well saved by Evans and Scunthorpe kept possession to run out the clock.
So where are we going wrong? Clearly we missed Oldfield, he will never score many goals but his
ability to link up play has created many. The question is a tired Oldfield a better option than an Andy Scott
with bruised ribs? I think this afternoon proved the point all too well. Hopefully Basham will be fit soon
as he and Brooks are the only natural goal scorers this club has. I will not comment on how long it will
take Brooks to get fit, as I’m happy just to see the lad back to some semblance of health. Long may it
continue. Gavin Gordon is too good to be languishing in Cardiff’s reserves but I can’t see Kassam putting
up the funds for another striker unless one leaves.
I can’t see another club picking up the wage bill for that to happen. As I said earlier Viveash should
complete his triumvirate of Thames Valley clubs next week if you please Mr Kassam.
The team and in particular Scott seem very pressurized by Home games and it’s hard to see how
this can be addressed. Some fans can very impatient but they pay their £15 and so they are entitled to
have their shout. Perhaps we should bite our lips when things are not going our way until we are back in our
cars. The players this season are all honest which is in contrast with many in the last couple of years. As
it stands I think we’ll at least make the playoffs but we’ll need to get a good lead in the away leg. The
Millennium Stadium should hold no fears for us, it’s just the Kassam Stadium…See you all next week.
 

Oxford United Andy Woodman Scott McNiven Matt Robinson Adi Viveash Andy Crosby Matthew Bound James Hunt Bobby Ford David Savage Gavin Gordon Andy Scott Subs Dean Whitehead David Waterman Manny Omoyinmi (for Savage 60) Paul Powell (for Bound 74) David Oldfield (for Robinson 89) Booking Hunt (dissent 8)

Scunthorpe United Tom Evans Nathan Stanton Mark Jackson Jamie McCombe Andy Dawson Peter Beagrie Alex Calvo-Garcia Wayne Graves Matthew Sparrow Steve Torpey Martin Carruthers Subs Terry Barwick Scott Brough Leon Ryan Russ Wilcox Neil Collins Booking McCombe (Scuffle with Gordon 55) Dawson (Foul on Omoyinmi 84)

Next Match:-Swansea Home Division 3..




            
       Click above or call on 01993 702010