Oxford United 2 Cheltenham Town 1

Oxford's final meaningful pre-season game saw them beat Third Division Cheltenham, thanks to two first-half strikes from new wunderkind, Jamie Guy. Oxford started with almost the same line-up as most of the recent games, with Ben Hinchliffe getting the nod over Jake Cole in goal, and triallist Levi Reid claiming the right wing role from Yemi Odubade.

The Us started strongly, with Guy forcing Shane Higgs into a save with barely half a minute on the clock. Ten minutes later and Lewis Haldane forced Higgs into another save as Oxford were making their higher-league opponents look distinctly second best. Cheltenham came back into the game, but failed to trouble Hinchliffe, as Luke Foster and Barry Quinn were solid at the back. There was one worrying moment when Ashley Vincent had a free header in the centre of goal, but he headed over when he should have hit the target. With 25 minutes gone, Haldane had a golden opportunity to open the scoring after being put through by Adam Murray, but his first effort was well saved by Higgs, and he blasted the follow-up well over. Six minutes before the break, Oxford did finally get their breakthrough, when a delightful ball from Murray set Guy clear and he shot across Higgs to open the scoring. As in their previous two home games, though, United conceded again almost immediately, this time just five minutes later, and yet again from a set piece. Alex Russell's corner was headed back across the goal and Paul Connor headed home from three yards. However, United were determined not to let their good work go to waste, and a minute later they took the lead again. This time it was a Haldane cross that Guy steered under Higgs, who got his arm to it but he couldn't keep it out.

Darren Patterson made wholesale changes at half time, with just Reid staying on the pitch, moving from right wing to right back in place of James Clarke. Cole replaced Hinchliffe, with Matt Day and Chris Willmott coming on for Foster and Quinn, and Alex Jeannin for Chris Carruthers. Yemi Odubade and Michael Husbands replaced Guy and James Constable up front, while the central midfield pair of Murray and Joe Burnell was swapped for Rob Davies and Eddie Hutchinson. Sam Deering took over from Haldane on the left wing, and Portuguese triallist Diogo Andrade took up Reid's right-wing position. Unfortunately, Andrade failed to impress, with several crosses going astray or failing to beat the first man, and he was replaced by Richard Groves after just 20 minutes. It would be a huge surprise if we see him in a United shirt again. The remainder of the side all continued to perform where the first-half contingent left off, with Yemi and Husbands both looking lively and going close to increasing the lead, and Reid's replacement Ian Sampson hitting the outside of the post from the edge of the area in the last minute. At the other end, Cole had little to do as both Willmott and Day kept the Cheltenham forwards at bay, although Jeannin disappointed as he failed to cut out some threatening crosses.

All told, this was another excellent showing from the new-look Oxford United. Patterson has molded a side based on pace and strength, and provided the main players can stay injury-free, there won't be many Conference teams that can live with the resurgent Yellows. In addition, the second half provided ample evidence that our previous concerns about the squad's strength in depth look to have been addressed, should Reid, Husbands, and Davies be taken on for the season, and they've given no reason why they shouldn't be on their showings so far.