Oxford United 1 (Louis) Sw*ndon T*wn 0

Melinda Messenger, Billy Piper, Julian Clary, Ralph Little, Diana Dors, Mark Larmarr, Justin Hayward, that bloke from XTC,
Plus anyone from Wiltshire (No not you Russ), can you hear me? Your boys took one hell of a beating……
For an Oxford fan, it simply doesn’t get better than this. Beating the Scum fair and squarely in front of a
passionate crowd, with no trouble, and of course getting the golden nugget of an away tie at League
Champions Arsenal. All of which must really stick in throats of the Scumdon fans, which makes it all the
better!!!
Oxford stuck to the 5 3 2 formation with Louis replacing the injured Oldfield and Abdou Sall making
his first appearance at the Kassam, replacing Powell on the bench. The opposition played an unusual 4 3 3
formation which initially the U’s midfield found difficult to deal with.
The match started typically briskly with Insufferable heading a Duke cross over the bar. A Sabin shot was
defected over as Swinedon threatened to swamp Oxford early on but as time wore on the U’s became used to
the formation used and began to mount an increasing threat.
On 13 minutes a Louis header from the midfield found Savage on the left. His run resulted in a cross to
Basham whose shot was parried by Griemink.
A minute later a delicious run on the left by Louis found Reeves backing off a little too much and the
young forward fired in low to the near post with Griemink doing well to stick out a foot to deflect
behind.
The visitors throughout the first half had the vast majority of the possession with Oxford guilty of
defending a little too deep. For all of that the Scum created little or nothing of genuine threat and
Woodman was never forced to make a save that was anything other than regulation.
On 31 minutes a Ford corner was headed over by Savage, before the Slimedon defence headed over a
wicked McNiven cross.
In the 37th minute an in swinging Jackson corner found Parkin diving in but the ball squirted wide.
Soon after Ford did what only Ford can do by playing a pinpoint 40 yard ball to Basham just outside the
box. The pass deserved a glorious shot but Basham’s attempt was easily gathered by Griemink.
On the stroke of half time the Scum had their best chance of the half and probably the game. Good work by
Parkin in the centre of the box found Impossible on the right of the 18 yard area, but the Aussie proved
that not all of his nation are good at sport by willfully shooting wide, the ball going out for a throw in!
Oxford clearly had learned from the second half as they had far more possession in the second and
continued to create the better chances.
However the first chance of the second half fell to the Scum, Imbecile failing to connect with a low cross
across the face of the goal.
On 52 minutes a rampaging run by Louis produced a pass in to Basham whose turn and shot was partially
blocked allowing Griemink to gather.
Almost immediately after Oxford had a good shout for a penalty. United attacked down the middle and Savage
supported well and fired in a shot from 15 yards that Hewlett appeared to handle. Referee Hill waved away
the appeals.
It was end to end stuff as Imponderable was allowed to run from centre spot to box but once again
succeeded in blasting wide.
Embarrassing turned provider as Swinedon pressed again , crossing form the right for Parkin to head
wide.
United broke the deadlock in 65th minute with a move that came from almost nothing. Duke smashed the ball
into the South Stand needlessly but close enough for a McNiven long throw. (Did the Scum scout properly ?) .
His throw found Louis whose flicked header looped joyously into the bottom left corner with Basham doing
just enough to distract Griemink
Swinedon pressed briefly but Oxford had the next chance, McNiven blasting a thunderbolt just wide from
fully 25 yards.
On 76 minutes a McNiven ball from the by-line found Ford. His slide rule pass found Basham through on goal
but fired wide when it looked easier to score.
Swinedon were offering little of note as Oxford, wanting the game more, increased the pressure. Heywood
fired over his own bar following a corner before Oxford had another shout for a penalty turned down
when Louis’ overhead shot appeared to have been handled.
Oxford had one last worrying moment when Woodman (Is this the first time I’ve mentioned him?) stumbled
clearing a Ford backpass but recovered before Parkin could take advantage. The ball was held in the
corner, Abdou Sall was cup tied without touching the ball and the most important tie in the brief history
of the Kassam Stadium finished with the stadium being wonderfully rocked to it’s foundations.
It’s not often a match report ends with a mention of the Car park, but with everyone listening to Radio
Oxford the 200 horn salute when the Arsenal draw was made was genuinely spine tingling. I still can’t
quite believe it.


 

Oxford United ANDY WOODMAN SCOTT MCNIVEN MATT ROBINSON MATTHEW BOUND ANDY CROSBY DAVID WATERMAN JAMES HUNT BOBBY FORD DAVID SAVAGE JEFFERSON LOUIS STEVE BASHAM Subs DEAN WHITEHEAD (for FORD 87) CHRIS HACKETT ROY HUNTER ABDOU SALL (for BASHAM 90+3) LEE STEELE Bookings ROBINSON 49 (foul) LOUIS 90 (foul)

Sw*ndon T*wn Bart Griemink Gareth Edds David Duke Matt Heywood Alan Reeves Matt Hewlett Stefani Miglioranzi Darren Dykes Sam Parkin Danny Invincible Subs craig farr adam willis (for edds 72) david bampton (for jackson 78) kevin halliday alan young Bookings hewlett 70 (foul) haywood 89 (foul) bampton 90+1 (foul)

Next Away to Bristol Rovers Saturday 14th December 2002-Division 3




            
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