Iron's late effort stuns U's
   Malcolm Shotton's misery continued after a late strike from Guy Ipoua gave Scunthorpe a 1-0
   victory after a less-than impressive display by the U's.
   Oxford started brightly in what was an evenly balanced start to the game. The U's were
   attempting to bounce back from the two 2-0 defeats suffered last week and both sides did enjoy
   periods of pressure in the first period.
   But it was Scunthorpe who nearly broke the deadlock as early as the 12th minute when on-loan
   keeper Lionel Perez collected the ball under pressure from a Paul Powell cross.
   Perez quickly released the ball to Lee Hodges who ran the length of the pitch and released the
   ball to Clint Marcelle. The on-loan forward skillfully backheeled the ball into the path of Gui
   Ipoua but he could do no more than stab the ball just wide.
   However, Oxford had the better chances before the interval most notably from Derek Lilley in
   the 16th minute. A long ball out of defence from Steve Davis found the Scot who shot just wide
   under pressure.
   And the visitors should have gone ahead on the half-hour mark when central defender Mark
   Watson found himself unmarked in the area but his header thundered back off the underside of
   the crossbar.
   Paul Tait and Matt Murphy were particularly impressive for the U's in the middle of the park and
   Malcolm Shotton must have been happy with his side's performance going into the half time
   interval.
   However, Scunthorpe took the ascendancy in the second half and enjoyed the better chances.
   Clint Marcelle managed to find the back of the United goal in the 56th minute only for the effort
   to be ruled offside - a debatable decision.
   And in the 61st minute, the tricky Marcelle was again in the hub of the action as his crossfield
   ball provided Paul Harsley with a chance. But the 21-year-old's shot on the run was saved by
   the impressive Andre Arendse in the Oxford goal.
   Arendse was forced into action twice more in the next ten minutes and one save came out of
   the top draw as he clawed away Chris Hope's bullet header.
   But just when the travelling Oxford faithful were just beginning to think that a point was in the
   bag, Ipoua struck as late as the 88th minute after being threatening all evening - turning the
   defence twice before slamming home from 15 yards.
   The defeat is sure to be a very bitter pill to swallow for all connected with the club with Malcolm
   Shotton sure to be wondering where the next victory will be coming from.

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