Mansfield Town 2 Oxford United 1

Oxford's long unbeaten away record fell at Field Mill this evening as they were well beaten by Mansfield Town. After weathering some early pressure United came back into the game, with Matt Green going close after lobbing Alan Marriott. However, the ghosts of Saturday's second half came to haunt United as the midfield were overrun by Mansfield who scored two quick goals to rock the Us. In the 21st minute Ryan Williams chipped Ryan Clarke to open the scoring, and Jake Speight doubled the lead four minutes later. Instead of collapsing Oxford rallied and pushed forward, with Jamie Cook having a 35-yard shot coming back off the crossbar, and Adam Murray forcing Marriott into a good save.

After a stuttering start to the second half, Oxford started to put Mansfield under the cosh. With quarter of an hour remaining James Constable reduced the arrears with a fine finish after he controlled a long ball from Murray. This spurred Oxford forward and they peppered the Mansfield goal, with Green, Constable, and Jack Midson all going close. Marriott made some fine saves, the ball came back off the woodwork, and former United triallist Gary Silk made an excellent tackle on Constable to deny an almost certain equaliser. However, the run had to end at some stage and Oxford failed to go the calendar year without an away defeat. If you're going to lose, you might as well do it when you're far enough ahead for it not to make too much difference.

Chris Wilder made just one change to the side that beat Eastbourne Borough 4-0 on Saturday, with Steven Kinniburgh returning to left back after Kevin Sandwith failed a fitness test, having turned his ankle in that victory. Kinniburgh was the first player to be substituted, ten minutes into the second half. Jack Midson replaced him as United changed from their 4-3-3 formation to a more traditional 4-4-2, with Simon Clist moving to left back. Three minutes from the end of normal time Murray was on the receiving end of a late tackle and was forced to leave the field to be replaced by Adam Chapman.

This evening's referee was T Harrington. This was the first time that he had been in charge of an Oxford game, and some of his decisions were very poor, including failure to play advantage when Green was through, and missing a blatant handball by Kyle Nix that almost led to Mansfield scoring from a breakaway. Never mind. The attendance was 3,933, of whom a decent support of 637 were following the Yellows, who were playing in white.

After this defeat United's lead at the top of the table has been cut to seven points, following second-placed Stevenage Borough's 1-1 home draw with fourth-bottom Grays Athletic. Mansfield have climbed two places to seventh. Kettering Town have climbed to third after their 2-1 win over Barrow; John Dempster scored the Poppies' opening goal. Tamworth have dropped one place to fourth after their goalless draw at Altrincham, and Cambridge United have descended to fifth after they drew 2-2 at York City, who dropped to eighth place.

Bottom side Chester City drew 1-1 at third-bottom Salisbury City in the most financially challenged game in the division, while second-bottom Forest Green Rovers held Kidderminster Harriers to a 1-1 draw at the New Lawn. Hayes & Yeading are just one place above the drop zone after they lost 3-1 at Eastbourne, and Ebbsfleet United have dropped to 19th after going down 1-0 at Histon. In 18th place are United's opponents on Saturday, Gateshead. They drew 0-0 at home to sixth-placed Rushden & Diamonds.

In the two inconsequential mid-table games, AFC Wimbledon were held 1-1 at home by Crawley Town, for whom Jefferson Louis scored, while Wrexham beat Luton Town 3-0. [@news]2564[/@news][@opponent]mansfield town[/@opponent]