| RESULT | 3 - 2 to the Magpies (no, not Newcastle) |
| TEAM |
Robinson, Edwards, Watson, Whelan, Powell Tait, Murphy, Weatherstone S Jemson, Lilley |
| SUBS | Abbey (for Jemson, h/t)
Cook (for Edwards, h/t) Anthrobus (for Weatherstone, 73) Folland, Shepheard (not used) |
| GOALS | 1-0 POWELL (7) - A goal from an
angle so acute as tro make scoring seem impossible. He always scores good
goals.
1-1 DYER (14) - Unmarked at a corner, his task was simple. 1-2 HUGHES (19) - A long run, unchallenged by Whelan, ended in the inevitable shot and goal. Learn to tackle. 1-3 HUGHES (39) - Penalty. Whelan clearly hand-balled in the box, but was he pushed beforehand? 2-3 POWELL (76) - Penalty. Anthrobus was clearly pushed over by Warren in the box. Keeper got a touch to the penalty. |
| PERFORMANCE | A terrible first half (5-3-2) followed by a much-improved second (4-4-2). Sadly it was already too late. |
| MAN OF MATCH | Paul POWELL - Scored a good first goal, a calm penalty and only an excellent save by Ward denied his hat-trick. |
| BOOKINGS | Paul TAIT (43) - Dissent. Mouthed off at the referee over a disputed
throw-in. Stupid really.
Mark WATSON (90) - Foul. |
| ATTENDANCE | 4,544 - The gaps are starting to yawn on the terraces now. A small away crowd didn't help the figure. |
| REFEREE | Alan Kaye (Wakefield) - Played advantage well, but gave some strange decisions too. Average. |
| REPORTS | Oxford sites
From The Terrace ("Sinking on and off the pitch")Notts County sites I Had A WheelbarrowFootball sites Football NewsNewspapers Express |
Relegation threat worsens
Despite taking an early lead through Paul Powell, who scored
twice, relegation haunted United
capitulated 3-2 at home to Notts County.
United took made a dream start when a sloppy back-pass let United's
Matt Murphy nick the ball
from County 'keeper Darren Ward. He fed Paul Powell who slotted
the ball in from a narrow angle.
Murphy could have made it two when he was put through one-on-one
with Ward but the Welshman
made the save that kept the Magpies in game.
United had County on the ropes but let them pull one back when
Alex Dyer rose unmarked to head
in Gary Owers corner.
Five minutes later, the away fans erupted when Andy Hughes fired
the Magpies into the lead with
an individual effort from 20 yards out.
Hughes got his second with a cool effort from the spot after
Phil Whelan had handled in the box to
leave United trailing by two goals at the break.
The second half had fewer goals but was still full of incident.
County continued to dominate but it was Powell who pulled one
back for Oxford. The 21-year-old
converted a penalty which was hotly disputed by Mark Warren
who was booked for his protest.
Oxford were lucky not to go further behind when Gary Owers saw
a lovely chip hit the bar.
United almost stole a point at the death when Powell's fierce
18-yard drive drew a reflex save
from Ward but County hung on to leave The U's stuck in the relegation
mire.
This page is maintained by James Beard.