It was another hot day as the amber hordes descended onto the Kassam Stadium for the visit of Cambridge United to hosts Oxford United. Oxford are much fancied this season and a tough encounter was predicted. A crowd of just over 8000 including a very vocal 595 from Cambridge awaited the teams. The crowd was certainly down on our last visit here in April toward the end of last season. The holiday period is in full swing and we, like the United team coach were held up in holiday traffic. After a few rumours the game was set to start at 3.05.
United playing in blue kicked towards the end of the ground where you get a good view of the car park as this is a 3 sided stadium. Early encounters were cagey but the visitors looked confident on the ball. Sam Smith from 25 yards chipped keeper Jones on 6 but the ball just cleared the crossbar. Murphy of Oxford had an effort charged down before James Brophy was tripped to get the visitors a free kick. A number of fouls by both sides broke up early play, but the U’s were right in the game and were posing threats to the home side. Browne for the hosts shot high and wide before the busy Brophy was fouled again earning Findlay of Oxford a yellow card.
United then missed a glorious chance following great wing play by Shilow Tracey. Tracey beat a couple of defenders before firing in a cross, the ball was deflected to Knibbs who somehow fired wide from 6 yards. It should have been a goal but the striker snatched at the chance. The visitors had clearly rattled the home side who appeared to respond by buying cheap free kicks making life difficult for referee Reaves. Harrison Dunk then fired narrowly over from around 30 yards out. George Williams then had an effort blocked as the visitors really took the game to the home side. Murphy had an effort for the home team saved comfortably by Mitov.
United were looking well organised, playing some nice passing football and most certainly did not look inferior to their hosts. However Oxford continued their tricks by going down very easily. Harrison Dunk was very unlucky to be yellow carded when appearing to clear the ball as Murphy went down. Sam Smith then shot narrowly wide and in reality the visitors could have been 3 goals to the good by half time. Half time came at 0-0, a really good performance by the U’s against dangerous opponents.
The second half began with Tracey taking the game to the home side before winning a free kick which was cleared. Browne of Oxford was then yellow carded for fouling Tracey. Sam Smith shot high and wide and on the hour it had been a well organised performance by the U’s but the finishing was under par. Danger man Taylor, when he could stay upright, fired narrowly wide for the hosts. He should stick to football as I don’t think the submarine service would take him, his performance against fellow professionals was pitiful. Smith was caught offside moments later before Murphy had a shot blocked for the home team. Oxford then replaced Bodin with Henry. Paul Digby then marched forward to fire in another shot which was blocked.
Taylor then headed straight at Mitov before going down once again, his continued protests fell once again on deaf ears. Brannigan had a shot charged down before Bate replaced Murphy for another home team change. Adam May set up Sam Smith on 79, but the striker shot wide. Oxford at last posed some pressure with Moore heading toward goal tipped over by Mitov. Moments later following a corner Taylor headed at goal but it was tipped over again by Mitov. Following a third corner Browne headed over. Janneh then replaced Brophy, Ironside replaced Tracey and O’Neil replaced Knibbs in the last 5 minutes. For The home team Jones replaced Taylor and Goodrham replaced McGuane.
Findlay headed over for the home side with the visitors seemingly having done enough for a point. Better finishing of course and the U’s would have been well in control. 4 minutes of added time and moments later disaster struck. The U’s were a little careless in losing possession in the Oxford half when Williams volleyed the ball high into the stand as the ball was played on the far side deep in the United half. As the throw was taken there appeared little danger but 2 half hearted challenges from the men in blue allowed teenager Goodrham to fire into the roof of the next from 8 yards, Mitov quite rightly berating the defenders in front of him.
So the game finished 1-0 to the home side, it was a travesty to see the underwhelming home side snatch victory when the u’s had looked so controlled and assured. Still lessons will be learnt following this unjustified defeat but ultimately we need to take our chances, end of……
Richard Stephen
Photo Credit: Simon Lankester