Decision deferred

Nothing to do with Oxford United is ever simple. Most hearings to determine whether or not to grant a judicial review are decided on the day, over the course of one day. With United, first of all, the Pentith hearing went over two days. Secondly the presiding judge, Justice Peter Hidden, closed the case after lunch on the second day after hearing from all the relevant solicitors, and announced that he wouldn't be making an immediate decision but that he hoped to make an announcement by the weekend. So once again Oxford are left hanging on, not knowing what the future has in store. Following the second day of evidence listeners at the court were more optimistic as to the outcome, but there is still a distinct possibility that the final decision might be to grant the judicial review, which will mean possibly untenable delays for Firoz Kassam.

Oxford gift Preston the points

Preston went to the top of Division Two tonight after their 3-1 win over lowly Oxford. On loan Brett Angell gave Preston the lead just two minutes before half time following a dreadful attempted clearance by on loan Christian Edwards. Twenty minutes into the second half Matt Murphy broke his two month scoring duck with a well taken goal to give United some hope but two goals within a couple of minutes quarter an hour from time, from Angell and Jonathen Macken, ensured that United came home empty handed.
Oxford started the game with the same line-up as they began against Colchester, with the exception of Richard Knight in goal in place of Pål Lundin. The improbable happened in the second half when Denis Smith replaced Nigel Jemson with Steve Anthrobus and later, with the score at 3-1, a double substitution saw Jamie Cook and Ben Abbey come on for Simon Weatherstone and Derek Lilley. A brief match report can be found here.

Butter side up

Gillingham drew 2-2 at home to Burnley tonight, the opening goal of the game coming from former United loanee Guy Butters.