United's winless run continued today at Aldershot[@opponent]Aldershot[/@opponent], although the Us came very close to winning their first game on the road since their 3-0 win at Cambridge on 20 October.[@news]2064[/@news] As it is, it is now eleven games since Oxford beat Tamworth 2-1 on 25 November. Oxford's performance today was certainly a vast improvement on recent games, with the Yellows dominating possession in the first half, and looking good value for their 1-0 half-time lead, courtesy of a Yemi Odubade goal five minutes before the break, after Kris Grebis had set him up. United had already had two or three chances prior to Yemi's goal, with a tame Rob Duffy header easily saved by Nikki Bull, a Yemi shot blasted over, as was a Danny Rose effort, while Grebis got the ball tangled under his feet when clear on goal. All the Shots had to show in the first half was a shot from Karl Beckford that went well wide, when he should have done better.

United had to withstand an Aldershot onslaught at the start of the second half, which included a Jonny Dixon goal rightly disallowed for offside, and a good shout for a penalty when Louis Soares looked to have been brought down. Then it was Oxford's turn to apply some pressure, with one fine run from Yemi in particular, when he collected the ball deep in the Oxford half, and ended up winning a throw-in by the Aldershot corner flag. Marvin Robinson had two glorious chances to get the goal to seal the game, first when clean through after an excellent pass from Andy Burgess, but his shot was charged down by Rhys Day and fell into Bull's arms, and second when he had a free header ten minutes from time, but he nodded over. However, the Shots rescued a point that they scarcely deserved when Gavin Johnson left Kirk Hudson unmarked at the far post, and the substitute rifled the ball home.

Due to a flu virus in the Oxford camp, none of Barry Quinn, Carl Pettefer, or Billy Turley were able to play, although Turley was on the bench, so Oxford started with Chris Tardif in goal, with Eddie Anaclet dropping to right back, alongside Michael Corcoran and Phil Gilchrist, and Johnson in for the suspended Rufus Brevett at right back. Yemi started on the right wing, with Martin Foster and Chris Hargreaves in central midfield, and Rose on the left, while Duffy and Robinson were the strike partnership. United were forced into their first substitution after just quarter of an hour, when Duffy was stamped on blind side of the referee, and had to be replaced by Grebis. With quarter of an hour remaining Burgess came on for Rose, and with a couple of minutes to go Anaclet was injured and was replaced by Andy Gunn.

The referee today was GL Ward, who was also in charge when the two sides met at Grenoble Road on 4 November. His performance was somewhat, um, erratic, but to be fair he tried to allow the game to flow, and he got a lot of decisions right (for example his decision to book Soares for a blatant dive fifteen minutes from time). He also showed yellow cards to Hargreaves and Foster, both for fouls. The attendance at the game was 3,621, which was Aldershot's best of the season so far. We fully intend to publish a match report, sometime, but you can help by sending one in, if you like.

The dropped two points proved to be something of a missed opportunity, as Dagenham & Redbridge emulated United and lost 2-1 at home to Rushden & Diamonds, to leave the gap at the top seven points, with the Daggers having played a game fewer. However, both York City in third place, and Gravesend & Northfleet in fourth both took full advantage and closed to just two points behind Oxford. York won 4-0 at Altrincham, who are now third from bottom, while Gravesend beat sixth-placed Morecambe 2-1. The Fleet are United's next opponents, visiting Oxford on Saturday. Exeter City are fifth, a further four points behind but with two games in hand on Oxford, after beating Woking 1-0.

Tamworth remain bottom after drawing 1-1 with second-bottom Southport, while Halifax have dropped into the relegation zone, in 21st place, after their game at home to Northwich Victoria was postponed. Grays Athletic are just above the Fax, fifth from bottom, after losing 2-0 at Cambridge United, who have climbed to 17th. Kidderminster Harriers' astonishing run of ten straight league victories came to a crashing halt at Forest Green Rovers, who won 2-1 after being a goal down. Burton Albion lost their second game in a row, losing 2-1 at Stevenage Borough, to leave the Brewers seventh, but equal on points with Exeter. Weymouth's collapse continued as they went down 2-1 at home to Stafford Rangers. St Albans and Crawley drew 2-2.