It may only have been 1-0; it may have been hard work; it may even have been somewhat fortunate; but Oxford United have won, away from home, against a team of part-timers, playing with a flat back four. Eat that, Histon and Droylsden. It certainly wasn't a pretty game up at Farsley Celtic, matching the somewhat derelict industrial surroundings of deepest Yorkshire, but with United's current dismal record of being unable to hold onto a lead, this will do. And a clean sheet for the first time in over a month, to boot. The sparsity of the Throstle Nest 'stadium', probably the most basic ground at which United have played since leaving the Southern League 45 years ago, was thrown into stark perspective by the journey to and from the venue, which took one past the sleek modernity of Elland Road, a stadium hosting football just two levels above Farsley.

The game itself started slowly, both sides looking appropriately nervous, the uneven playing surface not contributing to a smooth passing game. United came closest to breaking the deadlock first, as loanee Jordan Rhodes, making his full debut, curled a shot that looked destined for the top corner until Tom Morgan got his fingertips to the ball to divert it wide. This was the first shot of the game, half an hour in. Just before half time, the home side managed their first real effort on goal, when the diminutive Lee Tuck smashed a shot against the underside of the bar from the edge of the area. Luckily for United, it bounced out of the goal, but it was close.[@news]2202[/@news][@opponent]farsley celtic[/@opponent]

Five minutes into the second half, Danny Rose came close when he turned and shot, but Morgan parried the ball for a corner. Five minutes later, United took the lead when a long cross from Phil Gilchrist led to Rhodes and Morgan challenging for the ball, which dropped for Phil Trainer to slot home. Morgan saved again from Trainer, and then Yemi Odubade just failed to connect with an excellent cross from Rhodes, who was having an excellent debut, which he almost capped with a goal five minutes from time, but again Morgan saved well and tipped the ball around the post. Previously, Tuck smashed another shot against the woodwork from the edge of the area, and Turley smothered the ball at Tuck's feet, but the Us actually held on without conceding.

Jim Smith rang the changes for this game, both in personnel and tactics. Mickey Corcoran was dropped as the side lined up with a flat back four, four in midfield, and two up front. New loan signing Stefan Bailey made his debut in the centre of midfield, with Eddie Hutchinson on the bench after receiving a knock against Torquay United on Thurdsday. Danny Rose played wide left, or occasionally a third striker. With Paul Shaw having departed for the wilds of Ferencvaros in Hungary, Rhodes also made his first start. Rose was having a quiet game, and ten minutes into the second half he was replaced by Matt Day, who went to left back, with Alex Jeannin moving into midfield. Twenty minutes from time Hutchinson replaced Bailey, who had also played well on his first Yellow outing. With four minutes to go, another player was handed his Oxford debut, as youth-teamer Alex Fisher came on for Rhodes.

The referee for today's game was C Pawson. He had a fine game, letting it flow and keeping his cards in his pocket as far as he was able. He did book Day right at the end for a desperately late lunge. The attendance of 1,219, which included 322 in the away end, was Farsley's best of the season so far, and almost double their average attendance.

The win took United up just one place, to 11th, while Farsley remains fifth from bottom. Oxford are still seven points off the play offs. There were two other Conference games played today. Torquay United went back to the top of the table with a 4-2 win over Stevenage Borough, in fourth place. Chris Zebroski scored twice for the Gulls. In the other game, eighth-placed Histon beat Kidderminster Harriers, in tenth position, 2-1.