| RESULT | 1 - 0 to the Gills |
| TEAM |
Robinson, Watson, Whelan, Powell Beauchamp, Tait, Fear, Murphy Jemson, Russell |
| SUBS | Lilley (for Fear, 42)
Weatherstone, S (for Beauchamp, 65) Edwards, Francis, Lundin (not used) |
| GOALS | 0-1 LEWIS (89) - Controversial. Arendse was blatantly fouled by Asaba whilst collecting a cross, and Lewis tapped in. |
| PERFORMANCE | Gillingham had more of the play, but Oxford had good chances, and were denied a point by a bad refereeing error. |
| MAN OF MATCH | Derek LILEY - Came on and played really well, linking play behind the front two. |
| BOOKINGS | Mark WATSON (89) - Foul on Carl Asaba.
Paul TAIT (90) - Dissent. Comaplined about the controversial Gillingham goal. Simon WEATHERSTONE (90) - Dissent. Ditto. |
| ATTENDANCE | 6,966. |
| REFEREE | Phil Joslin (Newark) - Oh dear... His bad decision cost Oxford a point at the end. |
| REPORTS | Oxford sites
From The Terrace ("To infinity and beyond")Gillingham sites From The Terrace ("Poor show proves fruitful!")Football sites Football NewsNewspapers Express |
U's crash at Priestfield
Oxford came away from the Priestfield Stadium with nothing as
a 89th minute goal from Junior
Lewis won the match 1-0 for Gillingham.
The first half was full of half chances but most of the efforts
were from long range and didn't
trouble either keeper. The Gills' Andy Thomson had the best
chance for either side in the first
half. Following a shot by Ty Gooden, the U's keeper Andre Arendse
could only palm the ball way
and it fell to Thomson, but the keeper made amends with a great
save as Thomson looked to turn
the ball into the net.
Four minutes later and it was Thomson again who troubled the
keeper, but this time his flick was
saved by Arendse, who had a great game in the U's net.
Oxford's first real shot came after 24 minutes as Peter Fear
almost caught Vince Bartram in the
Gillingham goal unaware with a powerful 35 yard drive, but the
Gills' keeper recovered and saved
the shot low down to his left. In the 39th minute, Paul Powell
set up Joey Beauchamp, whose
curling shot flashed just over the bar.
Just after the half hour mark Junior Lewis attempted a volley,
but Arendse was equal to the shot,
and the chance went begging for Gillingham.
The second half was a similar affair with chances at both ends.
Jemson had a great chance for
Oxford and Craig Russell missed a glorious chance for the U's
towards the end of the game when
it looked easier to score.
Then in the 89th minute the game was decided by a controversial
goal that is sure to be a talking
point for both manager after the game.
The ball as crossed in and Andre Arendse appeared to be sandwiched
by two Gills' players, but
the referee gave nothing as the ball fell loose and was bundled
in by Junior Lewis to grab all
three points for Gillingham.
There were inevitably protests after the incident and the game
but despite the controversy,
Gillingham have come away from the game with all three points,
and Oxford's position in Division
One becomes ever more precarious.
This page is maintained by James Beard.