Last minute blues

Goals in the last minute of each half cost United the points as they went down 2-1 at Spotland today, a venue where Oxford have never won. Michael Oliver gave the home side the lead with a cracking shot at the end of the first half, but a spirited fight-back saw Dave Savage's cross-cum-shot beat Neil Edwards in the 71st minute. United dominated the second half but failed to kill off Rochdale who took control of the end game and it was little surprise when Gavin Melaugh headed home Lee Hodges cross in the final minute. There was still time for Jefferson Louis to spurn a glorious opportunity to equalise, but it was not to be.

As suspected Ian Atkins made one change from the side which lost to Wrexham, with Matt Robinson replacing Paul Powell at left wingback. With United trailing Bobby Ford replaced Scott McNiven, with Roy Hunter dropping to right wingback. Ford took charge of the midfield and looked to have turned the game in United's favour. A second substitution saw Louis come on for a clearly disappointed Steve Basham. In the final minute Lee Steele replaced Matt Bound as the Us threw caution to the wind, alas to no avail.

Referee Mike Pike took charge of a United game for the first time this season, and didn't book any Oxford players in a generally competent performance. The attendance was a paltry 2,764 and a match report can be found here.

Despite this defeat United are still only three points behind Bury, who are in the third automatic promotion spot, the Shakers drawing 2-2 at Torquay despite being reduced to nine men. York have edged ahead of Oxford into fourth position after winning 1-0 at Leyton Orient. Top team Hartlepool won again, beating Exeter 2-1, whilst second placed Rushden lost a bit of ground, being held to a 2-2 draw at Darlington. Oxford are leading a pack of four sides on 46 points. Lincoln moved up to sixth after winning 1-0 at Hull and in what was possibly the day's most significant game Bournemouth beat Wrexham 2-0 at The Fitness First Stadium to move up to seventh. Torquay are eighth and Scunthorpe have dropped to ninth after losing 1-0 at Boston.

Boston's win saw them climb to fifth from bottom, one of four teams on 28 points. Bristol Rovers sank to the bottom after being held 2-2 at Southend, Swansea climbing off the foot of the table into penultimate position thanks to a 3-1 win at Macclesfield, who went fourth from bottom, one place above Exeter. Carlisle, United's next opponents, continued their climb towards safety with a 2-2 draw at home to Kidderminster, whilst Shrewsbury's 5-0 defeat at Cambridge brings them deeper into the relegation frame.

Former United loanee Gavin Gordon scored Cardiff's last minute equaliser at home to Barnsley. Matt Elliott scored Leicester's third goal in their 4-1 win at Walsall, and Dean Windass gave Sheffield United a 2-1 lead at Ipswich in a game the Blades eventually lost 3-2.