Oxford Reject Rubs It In

For the third time already this season, Oxford United were frustratingly held to a draw at the Kassam Stadium in a match they certainly ought to have won. The home side had cruised into a two-goal lead, only to throw it away during a crazy five minute period. Despite many promising signs and some fantastic football produced by the Yellows, particularly in the first half, the bumper crowd that had come out for the ‘Bridle Bonanza’ were once again left feeling disappointed and deflated at Oxford’s failure to kill the game off.

In the first half, backed by their vociferous home supporters, Oxford battered and bruised their opponents, Burton Albion, but were unable to break the deadlock. Speedy winger Alfie Potter was at the heart of everything for the U’s and it was his cross in the fifteenth minute that presented disappointing loanee Lewis Guy with a golden opportunity to open the scoring. However, the former Newcastle youth forward, playing the last game of his month-long loan spell from Franchise FC, found his shot saved at point blank range from the impressive Brewers keeper, Ross Atkins. One can only hope that Wilder does not chose to extend Guy’s loan spell. The decision to release Jack Midson and Sam Deering in favour of the ineffectual Guy still remains a mystery to me.

Another mystery has been Wilder’s perplexing decision to replace our superb attacking right-back, Damien Batt, with the desperately slow Andrew Whing. Thankfully, Wilder realised his mistake early on in this encounter, ripping off Whing for Batt inside thirty minutes. Batt was straight into the thick of things, clearly intent on making his point and playing his way back into the starting line-up when he was savagely cut down by Aaron Webster after a fantastic run. Specialist set piece taker, Peter Leven, put the resulting free-kick just over the bar. Minutes later, James Constable who has been subject to a bid from League 1 Bournemouth went close with a header. Unfortunately, on a day when chances were aplenty, United’s talisman was having an off-day. One can only hope that Constable’s head has not been turned by the recent transfer speculation.

With the game still all square, Burton midfielder Jacques Maghoma whistled a stinging shot inches past Ryan Clarke’s post, almost giving the visitors an unlikely lead. This warning side meant that the Yellows now appeared more intent than ever on breaking the deadlock and making their pressure tell. Once again, Batt and Potter combined down the right before Potter fizzed a dangerous cross into the Burton box only for defender Andy Corbett to smash against his own post. Lewis Guy then wriggled free of the Burton defence only to slice his shot into the side netting. With half time fast approaching, the U’s were miraculously still level. Thankfully, with almost the last kick of the half, Potter found space on the edge of the box and this time decided to go for goal himself, firing the ball into the far corner of the net. Relief all round.

After a slow start to the second half, a clever Oxford move saw Guy slip the ball through to Leven, who coolly chipped the ball over Atkins in the Burton goal. Now two-nil up and in a position of complete dominance against average opponents, what could possibly go wrong? Surely this was a comfortable three points in the bag? Not so. Immediately after doubling their lead, United were pegged back courtesy of a highly dubious penalty decision. A clumsy coming together between Liam Davis and Maghoma saw the Oxford defender win the ball, only for referee Woolmer to point at the spot. In classic Oxford fashion, an ex player Justin Richards calmly stepped up to arrogantly place the ball to Clarke’s right before grinning and dancing in front of the Oxford Mail stand. This unexpected goal suddenly breathed life into Albion and five minutes later, disaster struck for Oxford. A harmless Burton corner was completely missed by Jake Wright and found its way to who else but Richards to scramble the ball home for his second and Burton’s equaliser. The grinning and the dancing had started again. The ex-Oxford player then had a glorious chance for his hat-trick but somehow blazed his shot over the bar. Oxford had fallen apart, their confidence and composure sapped thanks to Richards’ right foot. The Burton Albion centre forward had another opportunity for his hat-trick, yet this time Oxford had Ryan Clarke to thank for preventing yet more grinning and dancing.

With the game drawing to a conclusion and the hosts clearly delighted with their point, Oxford rallied themselves for one last effort. A whipping Davis cross presented Constable with the chance to dramatically win the game for United, but instead Oxford’s centre-forward headed the ball into the car park behind the goal. As such, the U’s were forced to settle for a point. Two more points dropped. The story of the season so far…

Man of the Match: Alfie Potter