Oxford inquest
Antrobus the diver?

Ritchie's small consolation is that he has no new injury worries. Although Lee Duxbury left the field limping on Saturday, he was simply suffering from cramp and the after-effects of the stomach bug which struck him last week. Athletic used a sweeper at the Manor Ground and will probably stand by the same system next weekend. But the players who operate it could change as Ritchie has so far shown reluctance to stick with a losing formula.

Oxford Match report

THERE is a well-known phrase for that eerie feeling when you think you've experienced something before. For now, it's called deja vu. But it's only a matter of time until the dictionary compilers change it to 'watching Oldham Athletic'. For the umpteenth time in the past few months, Athletic showed their aptitude for progressive football. They looked comfortable, had at least half the game and, for their general play and hard work, deserved to take a draw from injury-hit Oxford. Instead, their journey home was spent in the knowledge that they are rock bottom and continue to lead a pointless existence.

As If they needed any more bad luck to go with that awful record, Athletic were denied by a dubious penalty award from referee Matt Messias. The players were enraged by his 16th-minute decision to punish Shaun Garnett for and it was especially tough on goalkeeper Gary Kelly who was again In outstanding form. But Athletic were equally undone by their own lack of incisiveness up front. They had shots and plenty of them - but Oxford's Swedish keeper Paul Lundin didn't have to make one save that his elderly Aunt Agnetha couldn't have handled with comfort. Manager Andy Ritchie, in his forlorn search for a line-up which would end the torment, again showed the courage to make drastic changes. John Sheridan played as a sweeper, with Garnett and the fit-again Lee Duxbury making up the central-defensive trio.

Scott McNiven and Andrew Holt were the wing-backs, with both Paul Rickers and Phil Salt preferred to Mark Innes in midfield. Mark Allott was recalled up front after scoring against Stockport, while David Miskelly lain Swan and Ryan Sugden were all left out after that draw in the Worthington Cup. In a scrappy game which often lost its shape, it was hard to judge which of those changes were successful. In fact, Athletic switched to a flat back four when Duxbury was forced off, handing Jordan Tait a league debut at right-back and moving Sheridan back into midfield. There was enough time, however, to see that Duxbury who is always so willing to get forward, was stifled by his defensive role. The captain may be a terrific organiser, but Ritchie must decide whether he can afford to lose that crucial midfield drive. Though Sheridan looked quietly effective, Oxford still managed to create too many chances for comfort.

Allott, meanwhile, was never afraid to shoot, no matter what the situation. In the current plight, that has to be considered a step in the right direction. Athletic created the first opening after eight minutes when Salt won a crunching tackle 25 yards out and, showing the kind of initiative his manager has been demanding, tried an early shot which Lundin had to scramble away. When David McNiven also tried his luck from distance, it seemed Ritchie's message was finally getting through. But Athletic's promising start was left In ruins when Garnett and Steve Anthrobus challenged for a high free kick. There was certainly contact as the two heavyweights charged towards the ball, but the referee's penalty decision looked harsh on the visitors. When Matt Murphy made it six goals in six games by hammering his spot kick high into the corner, Athletic were in the familiar position of having to chase the game.

A previously subdued Oxford side were lifted by their unexpected bonus and Kelly had to make an excellent save from Simon Weatherstone's looping header. Derek Lilley was next to test Kelly's reflexes, while both Weatherstone and Lilley were superbly thwarted after the break as Oxford threatened to take command. Perhaps Athletic were distracted by the shirt worn in the second half by home goalkeeper Lundin, who was asked to change due to a clash with the visitors' kit. An appalling leopardskin number more blinding than a 10-minute glare at the sun, subtle it most definitely was not. Athletic brought on fresh legs when Paul Beavers replaced David McNiven, and the change of personnel almost reaped Immediate dividends when Holt charged Into the box and crossed for Allott who failed to make solid contact only six yards from goal. Two minutes later Neil Adams also failed to make the contact intended but in this case Athletic were grateful as the frustrated mid field man had lashed out at Paul Powell after an altercation

It was an uncharacteristic outburst from Adams, who was a shade lucky to escape with a yellow card. Athletic played their best football as the match entered its final quarter and Allott flashed a shot beyond the far post to remind Oxford of his threat. Beavers and fellow substitute Innes also had chances, while Allott skimmed a shot just wide from 20 yards. Oxford lost all momentum as the clock ticked down and were clinging on by their fingertips as their opponents experienced the reverse. Deep into injury time the desperation was even shown by manager Malcolm Shotton, who involved himself in a slanging match with the referee. For Shotton the final whistle brought obvious relief. Ritchie has no points no goals and no money and Ruud Gullit thought he had problems.

Managers commentsSHAUN GARNETT and Andy Ritchie united in their condemnation of the penalty verdict which cost Athletic a first point of the season. It was Garnett who conceded the 16th minute winner given for a shove on Oxford striker Steve Anthrobus as the two challenged for a free kick. Garnett said: "I thought it was harsh. I was watching the ball come in and just standing my ground when he ran into me. "In my book that's me being clever rather than bringing someone down." Ritchie went one step further by accusing the home players of diving to win decisions. "The referee (Matt Messias) was conned twice," the manager fumed. "First with the free kick and second with the penalty. Their player went down like a sack of spuds." But it was hardly a surprise to hear Oxford boss Malcolm Shotton give a different version of events. Shotton, who refused to comment on the argument he had with Messias in the final minutes, said: "It was a penalty, no doubt at all. "Steve Anthrobus would have scored if he hadn't been fouled." Ritchie again questioned the hunger of his forward men after Athletic failed to score for the fourth successive league game. He said: "We had as much possession and play as Oxford, but we don't look like we want to get on the end of things. "Three or four crosses went right across the area and, in those situations, we have to be prepared to get hurt and get kicked. "If you get your head in there and pick up a few stitches it doesn't matter when you've scored. "Only Mark Allott really had a shot and, though he knows they weren't the best of efforts, at least he had them." Meanwhile, Garnett was eager to defend his team-mates from the brickbats aimed by Athletic's travelling support. He said: "I heard comments like 'play for your shirts' and 'show some guts', but you can't fault us for attitude. "I feel sorry for the fans because they made a long trip, but I can assure them that not one of us is going out there and shirking"

Oxford Mail
 

Consistent Matt is spot on for United Oxford Utd 1 Oldham Ath 0 UNITED made heavy weather of beating a poor Oldham side at the Manor Ground on Saturday, but after losing their previous home league game against Cardiff, all that really mattered was to win. A disputed 16th-minute penalty, converted by goalscoring machine Matt Murphy, settled the Division 2 contest and the only surprise was that there weren't more goals.  That was down to  an inspired display of goalkeeping from Oldham's Gary Kelly, who twice made brilliant saves down by his near post.  The U's should have been buoyed by the news of their Worthington Cup draw against Everton, but in fact it was Oldham, who went into the match without a point or a goal in the league, who made the better start.  A hospital pass from Paul Tait to Les Robinson presented a shooting chance to Phil Salt, and goalkeeper Paul Lundin did well to push the effort around his post.  Carrying on from their midweek performance against Southend, United spread play with some good passing to put Oldham on the back foot. Joey Beauchamp miskicked when Mark Watson pulled the ball back after a delightful pass from Tait, and Simon Weatherstone's follow-up shot was blocked.  The breakthrough came when Beauchamp sent over a free-kick from the right and Steve Anthrobus was pushed in the back by Shaun Garnett.  Referee Matt Messias pointed to the spot and was immediately surrounded by Oldham players disputing the decision.  Murphy then kept up his goal-a-game record by expertly converting the penalty, shooting high to Kelly's left.  Weatherstone went close to increasing United's lead with a header from 12 yards which Kelly tipped over.  Malcolm Shotton had chosen Lundin in preference to Andre Arendse in goal, but it was a different keeper who came out for the second half - at least, that's how it looked!  The referee objected to Lundin's dark blue goalkeeping top, which clashed with the Oldham shirts. The big Swede had to change to another top which looked more like a leopardskin outfit!  Derek Lilley was unlucky with a downward header from Beauchamp's cross which Kelly turned around an upright for a corner.  And, in a purple patch of pressure from the home team, Weatherstone, Beauchamp and Murphy all went close to finding the net. The sweetest move, though, was a one-two between Lilley and Tait which ended with Lilley having his shot brilliantly pushed aside by the overworked Kelly.  Unable to kill Oldham off with a second goal, and tiring in the heat, Oxford then almost paid the penalty as the visitors came back strongly near the end.  Mark Allott shot across the face of the goal and a free-kick by veteran John Sheridan was fingertipped over the bar by Lundin.  Murphy looked much more likely to score than the United strikers and he brought the afternoon's best save from Kelly when he struck a volley on the turn.  In injury time, Anthrobus directed a header a yard wide, which summed up the disappointing finishing on view.

 Angry Bus says: 'I didn't dive for penalty'
STEVE Anthrobus, at the centre of controversy for the second week running, angrily denied taking a dive to earn United a penalty at the Manor on Saturday.

The big striker appeared to be pushed by Shaun Garnett as they challenged for a Joey Beauchamp free-kick, and York ref. Matt Messias awarded a penalty which Matt Murphy converted to bring the U's a 1-0 win.

Afterwards Oldham manager Andy Ritchie said: "It was definitely not a penalty. The Ref has been conned twice. He was conned because it was our free-kick in the first place, and he was conned again because Anthrobus went down like a sack of spuds."

But Anthrobus retorted: "It certainly was a penalty. I felt him give me a strong push in the back as I went to jump, and the ref blew straight away."

United boss Malcolm Shotton backed his centre forward. "It was definitely a penalty. Steve would have gone through and scored had he not been pushed."

Anthrobus, who was sent off at Bristol Rovers the previous weekend, which means he will miss the first leg of the Worthington Cup tie against Everton at the Manor, added: "It was another game where we should have kept the ball and finished them off. We should have destroyed this team." Shotton added: "We got three points and no injuries, so I'm quite happy. We started off very well, yet once we scored we seemed to sit back. But confidence comes from winning games and although we didn't play as well as we did against Southend, we still won

"The heat played a massive part, so that's something we need to look at.

"Our keeper had very little to do, whereas their keeper made fantastic saves."

Shotton added Phil Whelan and James Lambert, who was signed on non-contract terms on Friday, to the 16 on duty against Oldham, for today's Division 2 game at Blackpool.

Lundin was ordered to change his top for a different one at half-time, because the dark blue clashed with Oldham's shirts. So he had to dig out one that looked like a leopardskin.

"It's a big embarrassment and doesn't look good on the club," Shotton said. "But that's the state we're in because of what's gone on."

Kit suppliers New Balance were among the creditors owed thousands of pounds and the club currently have only one set of home and away kit for each player. 

Still no goals....or points

Boss slam strikers (again!)