Oxford United 2 York City 1

Oxford spent most of this match staring into the maw of a humiliating defeat before, somehow, they rescued an unlikely victory with two goal in the last five minutes. York took the lead through Richard Brodie in the 33rd minute, after he was set free by Alex Lawless. Brodie took the ball around Ryan Clarke but his first shot hit the post. Luckily for him the ball rebounded to his feet and he scored at the second attempt. United equalised when substitute Matt Green, starting his second spell at the club, was released by Luke Foster. Green chipped the ball over the onrushing Michael Ingham and the ball just rolled over the line before James Meredith booted it away. Two minutes later Mark Creighton scored a debut goal after an Adam Chapman cross pinged about the York area before Green nudged it to the giant defender who steered it home from eight yards.

United were lucky to still be in the game as they could have been two down at half-time. After four minutes Clarke made a superb reaction save to deny Andy Ferrell from six yards when the York striker should have scored. Oxford looked more nervous than York, who settled quickly, and produced a first half littered with unforced errors. There were a couple of half-chances for the Yellows in the first period, with Ingham hardly being worked by the Us, and at the other end Creighton and Foster were being bullied by Brodie and Michael Rankine.

Oxford started the second period the brighter side, with Alfie Potter replacing the ineffectual Marcus Kelly. However, they still didn't look particularly likely to get back into the game, as York controlled the midfield and dropped deeper to keep United out, often leaving Brodie up front on his own. Ingham hadn't had a real save to make before the introduction of Green for Kevin Sandwith eventually changed the game. Green was initially played on the left wing, where he failed to get into the game, but once he moved up front after Jack Midson was replaced by Alex Rhodes, United started to take control. Green's movement off the ball gave the York defence problems, and it was fitting that he should score the first goal. Most Oxford fans would probably have settled for the draw at that point, but with the momentum on their side the players had different ideas, and Creighton's strike provided a euphoric, if unlikely, climax.

Chris Wilder gave competitive debuts to five players in the starting line-up, with Clarke being preferred to Billy Turley in goal. Creighton partnered Foster at the back, with Adam Chapman starting at right back in place of Damien Batt. Dannie Bulman played with Simon Clist in central midfield, with Kelly starting on the left wing and Adam Murray on the right, while Midson and James Constable were the strike partners. The first substitution at half-time saw Potter come on for Kelly, and ten minutes later Green replaced the disappointing Kevin Sandwith. The final substition was Kelly coming on for Midson with quarter of an hour remaining.

The referee today was Rob Whitton. He was of the standard that we have come to expect down here, although his failure to brandish any cards, despite given ample opportunity by the players, was a major plus point. The attendance was a spiffing 6,403, with 420 Yorkies going home in a bad mood. This was Oxford's best opening day crowd since Rochdale visited for the first game at the Kas, back in 2001, and is indicative of the optimistic mood currently seeping through the minds of those connected with the club.

Elsewhere in this poxy league, the big winners were Mansfield Town, for whom Rob Duffy was on the scoresheet in their 4-0 win over Crawley Town. Histon won 3-0 at Conference newcomers Gateshead, and Wrexham clocked up the same scoreline at home to Eastbourne Borough. Barrow won 2-0 at managerless Cambridge United, and Salisbury City surprisingly won 2-0 at Rushden & Diamonds. United's opponents on Tuesday, Kettering Town, had a decent 2-1 win at Forest Green Rovers, while Matt Barnes-Homer scored Kidderminster Harriers goal in their 1-0 win over newcomers Hayes & Yeading.

Luton Town were held to a 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon, and Altrincham draw 1-1 with Ebbsfleet United. Stevenage Borough were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home to Tamworth. Chester City's game at Grays Athletic was called off a couple of days ago after it was revealed that the Conference had acted too hastily for the FA's liking by giving Chester permission to compete this season, despite docking them an extra 15 points in addition to the ten they'd already had deducted. It remains to be seen whether or not Chester will be allowed to play this season. [@news]2533[/@news] [@opponent]york city[/@opponent]

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