Rushden & Diamonds 0 Oxford United 2 (Savage, Oldfield)


Phew!!! That was amazing. I wonder who, if anyone, reads these reports.
If you were there today and are reading to remember then I’m surprised you’ve had time
to catch your breath. If you weren’t, then why not?
United made one enforced change, and one tactical switch. Savage replaced the injured Hunt and Oldfield
replaced Louis, as United sought to counter the physical threat of the Division leaders.
Unsurprisingly Diamonds made a confident start with a Lowe effort deflected for a corner, then Woodman saved
well from a Darby header.
The game was being played at a furious pace with Diamonds raining in crosses looking to exploit the
aerial power of Lowe, but after 4 minutes a Hall cross found Bell who headed over the bar with the goal at
his mercy.
Lowe was frightening the U’s defence and 2 minutes later a thunderbolt shot was fortuitously deflected
for a corner, and soon after Crosby was booked for a challenge on the big Jamaican.
United had hardly mustered a meaningful attack, but on 12 minutes they took the lead. The U’s broke from
the defence and found Basham on the inside left channel. As he does so well he drew 3 defenders before
squaring short right to Savage rushing to support, and the former Cobbler put the boot into the Diamonds by
coolly stroking past Turley.
United had found their feet at last and a deep McNiven cross was headed just wide at the back post by
Hunter. Diamonds tried to rally as Wardley shot wide and then a Bell shot was deflected for yet another
corner.
All exciting stuff, but on 29 minutes Oxford doubled their lead with what might just turn out to be goal of
the season. United found Basham in the centre of the box and he did well to hold the ball up then play it
back to Oldfield 20 yards out. He teed the ball up before smashing an unstoppable volley past Turley into
the top left corner…Delirium!
For the next 10 minutes Oxford United played the best football since the first half at Boston. A Basham
looping header just cleared the bar with Turley utterly beaten, before Crosby headed over at a corner.
Diamonds ended the half the more dominant as Bell tested Woodman with a long shot through a crowded box
that the U’s keeper did well to gather low down.
It’s shame for David Oldfield that this match will be remembered as much for the rearguard action in the
second half as for his wonder strike. Put simply, Oxford spent the entire half in defence with a little
profligate striking and a massive amount of simply superb defending maintaining the clean sheet. So dear
reader, prepare to read about the greatest bit of defending I’ve seen for many a long year.
On 46 minutes a Bell corner was poorly headed away by Crosby. The ball was whipped back in, and Barry Hunter
header went just wide with Woodman covering.
Immediately after The U’s failed to clear another attack, Bell put in another cross and Peters’ header
was sharply tipped over the bar by Woodman.
Rushden had switched Lowe to the left to try to exploit Waterman’s lack of height, but for the most
part the defender was to have by far the upper hand.
The U’s midfield were sitting deeper and deeper allowing Diamonds more and more possession
Paul Hall’s shot took a slight deflection for a corner before a Bell cross was headed behind by
Waterman under extreme pressure form Wardley. As siege mentality took hold the U’s defence became far too
keen to simply hoof the ball in the general direction of the forwards, inviting even more, sustained
attacks.
Wardley had two shots saved, and Gray’s shot was deflected behind and in all honesty that deflection
could have gone anywhere. United replaced Savage (groin again?) with Louis as Oldfield retreated to try
to stiffen the midfield and link with the attack. For a short time this appeared to work but at no time did
Oxford look anything like a threat apart form one Louis cross from the right which skimmed the top of
Basham’s head.
On 70 minutes Diamonds had their best chance to get back into the game. Hall crossed from the right and
Lowe beat his marker to thunder a free header from all of 6 yards out. Woodman’s reaction tip over the bar
was slightly reminiscent of that Banks save. I swear the ground was silent for a split second, then back to
the pandemonium. This will be save of the season; of that there is no question.
With 20 minutes left the visiting fans sensed this was going to be one of those days when United could
defend all day and not concede and the volume rose as the U’s were cheered home.
Diamonds continued to throw the kitchen sink, cooker and washing machine at United and United found new and
interesting ways of thwarting them. Substitute Burgess headed a Hall cross wide with Waterman in close
attendance, before on 84 minutes a massive goalmouth scramble caused by a missed Waterman tackle resulted
in a clearance off the line by Robinson, a pin ball like succession of shots and blocks, one of which by
Waterman had more than a hint of hand ball, before Bound hacked the ball clear. One of those days I
guess!
In injury time Burgess kicked over a Darby cross when presented with a free shot and Waterman headed off the
line over his own bar, but by this time everyone knew that Woody wasn’t going to be denied his clean sheet.
An amazing end to an unbelievable game as United go third.

Hope you all have a happy new year, we will now-I hope (Editors Note).
 
 

Oxford United ANDY WOODMAN SCOTT McNIVEN MATT ROBINSON MATTHEW BOUND ANDY CROSBY DAVID WATERMAN DAVE SAVAGE BOBBY FORD ROY HUNTER DAVID OLDFIELD STEVE BASHAM Subs Lee Steele Andy Scott (for Basham 74) Dean Whitehead (for Ford 78) Jefferson Louis (for Savage 60) Abdou Sall Bookings Crosby (foul 8) McNiven (trip 75)

Rushden & Diamonds Billy Turley Paul Underwood Barry Hunter Mark Peters Stuart Wardley Duane Darby Stuart Gray Marcus Bignot David Bell Paul Hall Onandi Lowe Subs Andy Burgess (for Gray 74) Daniel Talbot Andrew Sambrook Robert Duffy John Dempster Bookings None

Next     Southend -   1st January  2003-Division 3




            
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