Very Gay Meadow

United won at Shrewsbury for the first time today, beating the Shrews 2-1 in a very eventful game. Dave Waterman scored his first goal for Oxford in the 21st minute but, despite dominating possession and having the better chances, they allowed Jamie Tolley to equalise in the fifth minute of first half injury time. In the havoc leading up to Tolley's goal Andy Woodman got a kick in the face from Waterman and had to go off, with diminutive defender Scott McNiven replacing him between the sticks. Within 17 seconds of the start of the second half United subsitute Jefferson Louis put the Us in front again. On the hour Luke Rodgers was sent off for Shrewsbury after a horrendous tackle on Matt Bound, and Bobby Ford followed him with five minutes or so remaining. Fortunately the Us defence held firm for three vital points.

Steve Basham suffered from an injury and so his place in the starting line-up was taken by David Oldfield, but after just 13 minutes he had to be replaced by Louis. When Woodman was forced to leave the field McNiven's place was taken by Roy Hunter, and with Oxford defending their lead Lee Steele was replaced by Dean Whitehead in the penultimate minute of normal time.

Referee Michael Ryan took charge of an Oxford game for the first time this season and showed a straight red card to Rodgers and two yellow cards to Ford. No other Oxford players were cautioned. The attendance was 3,520. We have a match report here.

This excellent victory has lifted United up to fifth position, just one point off the third automatic promotion place. Hartlepool maintained their lead at the top of the division at ten points after beating Southend 2-1, while Rushden, in second place, beat Hull 4-2. Scunthorpe went above Bournemouth into third place after drawing 1-1 at Torquay, with the Cherries going down 1-0 at York, who have risen to seventh place. Lincoln are now sixth after they were held 1-1 at home by Wrexham, in eighth place. Kidderminster rose to ninth after winning 2-0 at Cambridge, United's next opponents on Tuesday.

At the other end of the table Swansea have slipped back to the bottom after losing 2-1 at home to Carlisle, who are now fourth from bottom. Exeter rose up to 91st in the league following their 2-2 draw at Darlington, while Boston slipped to third from bottom after going down 1-0 at Rochdale. Bristol Rovers continued their mini-revival with a 2-1 win at Orient, while Macclesfield also did their survival hopes a bit of good by holding Bury to a goalless draw at Moss Rose.

Should Ian Atkins be looking to bring in an experienced goalkeeper to cover for the injured Woodman, with Ian McCaldon also currently injured, he could do worse than consider former United 'keeper Phil Whitehead, currently on trial at QPR after falling out of favour at Reading. Other former Us in the news include Abdou Sall, who has been sacked by Nuneaton Borough after allegedly consistent flouting of club rules. Did he ever touch a ball for them? Also another former loanee, Garry Monk, has completed his three month loan at Sheffield Wednesday who now wish to sign him permanently, so perhaps he wasn't as good as we all thought he was?