Nerves of Steele

Two late goals from United substitute Lee Steele secured all three points for Oxford at Plainmoor this afternoon, as the club came from behind to win for the first time this season. After a goalless first half, notable only for James Hunt reliving his Wrexham experiences by failing to score with just 'keeper Kevin Dearden to beat, the game burst to life in the second period. Eleven minutes after the break Andy Scott broke the deadlock with a close-range header. With twenty minutes remaining Torquay were awarded a highly controversial penalty for an infringement seen by nobody apart from the referee. The spot kick was duly dispatched by Alex Miller. Five minutes later and Kevin Mills gave the home side the lead after his shot spooned over Andy Woodman. After a further six minutes, and just two minutes after coming off the bench, Steele scored his first with a looping header after Dearden's ineffective punch from a United short corner. Then in injury time a long clearance found Steele with just Dearden to beat and the Oxford striker calmly slotted the ball home.

Ian Atkins made two changes from the last United side to start a match, at Rochdale two weeks ago. As suspected Dave Waterman replaced the departed Christian Edwards in the back five, whilst Bobby Ford came in for Roy Hunter in the centre of midfield. It wasn't until United were 2-1 down with just eleven minutes remaining before Atkins changed things, bringing on Steele and Jefferson Louis for Waterman and Scott. With the scores level and three minutes left Hunter came on for Steve Basham.

Chester referee M J Jones had an appalling game, getting several major decisions wrong and blowing his whistle indiscriminately. He also booked James Hunt. This was his second Oxford game of the season as he also officiated the win at Darlington. The attendance was a measly 3,372. A match report is available here.

The win lifts Oxford five places up to sixth, above Torquay who drop to ninth, although with the same number of points as United. League leaders Hartlepool beat Swansea 4-0, which sees the Welsh outfit drop to fourth from bottom. Second placed Rushden lost 2-1 at Southend, leaving the Us just seven points behind them with a game in hand. Bournemouth remain third, four points above Oxford, after beating bottom team Exeter 2-0. Bury are fourth after drawing 1-1 at fifth placed York, in a game that could well be the Yorkshire club's last if a rescue package is not forthcoming imminently. Scunthorpe occupy the final play-off place after drawing 0-0 at Lincoln, whilst Kidderminster have dropped to eighth after going down 3-0 at Oxford's next opponents, Boston, for whom Simon Weatherstone scored the second. This lifted the Pilgrims up to 18th, five points above the relegation zone.

The game between 22nd placed Macclesfield and 23rd placed Bristol Rovers ended 1-1, whilst Carlisle's 1-0 win at Rochdale lifted the Cumbrians up to fifth from bottom. Shrewsbury won 2-0 at Leyton Orient to keep themselves just above Carlisle. Hull City and Cambridge United did each other no favours by drawing 1-1 at Hull. Wrexham play Darlington tomorrow.

I got the Fever

There was also a victory in the five-a-side game that took place in Paignton in the morning, as Raging Fever also came from behind to beat Barnstaple Gulls 19-17. Despite being 9-8 behind at half-time, after being 8-5 up at one stage, Fever put on a storming second half display as goals from Gez Foster, Jon WGL and John Matthews eventually turned the game the visitor's way. Gary Butler, Beeves and Brodders also played for Raging Fever.