United chose the live on TV game[@news]2056[/@news] at home to Rushden & Diamonds[@opponent]Rushden & Diamonds[/@opponent] to produce their worst performance of the season, and allow the Diamonds to become the first team this season to win at Minchery Farm. The first half was a tepid affair, with only an off-target long-range shot from Andy Burgess from Oxford. Rushden, on the other hand had a few scoring opportunities, but thankfully their shooting was absolutely woeful. Chris Tardif made one important save from Simeon Jackson, and Mark Albrighton blasted the rebound over the bar from about four yards out.

Oxford started the second half with much more purpose, and came close after just a couple of minutes, when Scott Tynan was forced to tip a cross-shot from Eddie Anaclet over the bar. For some reason, the Oxford midfield and defence had neglected to pass to Eddie for much of the first half, but he saw more of the ball after the break. Nine minutes into the half Rufus Brevett conceded a free kick midway in the Oxford half, and from the cross Chris Beardsley headed the ball home. United continued to struggle to make any headway against the massed Rushden defence, although debutant Gregg Coombes forced a save from Tynan. Tardif was then forced into a double save to prevent the visitors from extending the lead, denying first Beardsley and then Jackson. In added time United had their best chance to score, as Tynan spilled Yemi Odubade's shot but Rob Duffy was unable to guide the ball the right side of the post as it fell onto his wrong foot.

A measure of the problems facing United is that Jim Smith made six changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Woking last Tuesday. Tardif made his first start of the season, and a nervy one it was too, replacing the injured Billy Turley. Eddie Anaclet returned to right wingback, with Matt Day injured at Woking, while Andy Gunn made his first start of the season on the right of the back three following the injury to Georges Santos and the loan of John Dempster to Kettering. Brevett returned to the left wingback position in place of Gavin Johnson. In midfield, loanee Coombes made his debut, coming in for another injury victim, Carl Pettefer. Burgess started in place of Chris Hargreaves. The first substitution came with 20 minutes remaining, when Yemi came on for home debutant Kris Grebis. Six minutes later, Smith made a double change, swapping Brevett for Johnson, and bringing on Marvin Robinson in place of Coombes. Rushden started the game with three former Oxford players in their side, Wayne Hatswell[@player]Hatswell, Wayne[/@player] and Jon Ashton[@player]Ashton, Jon[/@player] in defence, and Jamie Cook[@player]Cook, Jamie[/@player] in midfield. Dave Savage[@player]Savage, David[/@player] came on for Glenn Wilson midway through the second half.

Tonight's referee was Andy Hendley, whom United fans will remember as the chap who awarded Altrincham their late penalty for no reason. At least he didn't make any similar decisions this evening, although he did book Brevett for the foul that led to Rushden's goal, and also showed yellow to Gunn for a late tackle. The attendance wasn't too badly affected by the TV factor, with 5,654 turning up, including 313 from the tiny hamlet of Irthlingborough. A match report may follow tomorrow.

With no other Conference games on tonight this result leaves Oxford nine points behind Dagenham & Redbridge. The three points lifts Rushden up five places to 15th. United's next home game is on Saturday at home to Cambridge United, who are currently 21st.