Oxford United 1 Barrow 0

As single-goal victories go this was, for the first hour, a 1-0 thrashing. However, United then somewhat typically sat back and allowed their opponents back into the game, and a better side than Barrow might have punished Oxford's nervousness.

Oxford took the lead in the 27th minute when James Constable converted his second penalty in successive games, after he was brought down by visiting keeper Stuart Tomlinson. This was a just reward for Oxford's early pressure, which had seen Constable shoot just wide after dispossessing Tomlinson on the edge of the area, and an Adam Murray free kick loop over the hapless goalie's head and come back off the post. It was 17 minutes before Ryan Clarke touched the ball for the first time, with a routine catch from a hopeful lobbed cross. Jamie Cook had a shot deflected into the side netting, and at the break there was only one team in the game, although Oxford supporters are well aware how flimsy a one-goal lead is.

United started the second period on the front foot, and were unlucky when Cook span and shot just wide, while the rest of the players were waiting for the whistle that never came after Damian Batt was batted off the ball. Jack Midson was almost on the end of a Batt cross that was flicked away in the nick of time, and a snap shot from Cook from the edge of the area brought a superb one-handed save from Tomlinson to deny what would have been a fine goal. Then Barrow started to mount their own pressure, without getting a sight of the Oxford goal. Constable's cross skimmed Midson's head when a firmer touch would have troubled Tomlinson, and United's leading scorer then had a 20-yard shot deflected just wide. One goal turned out to be enough, and the three points was probably more important than putting on a convincing performance as Oxford looked to bounce back from last week's disappointing defeat at Kidderminster Harriers. Barrow return to the Kas in a week for the FA Cup second round, and there will doubtless be one or two battles recommenced after today's bruising encounter. The points are doubtlessly more important than a cup run, but let's have both, why not.

Chris Wilder made three changes to the side that lost at Kidderminster, all of them enforced. As expected, Kevin Sandwith came in for the suspended Steven Kinniburgh, while Cook replaced the injured Matt Green. The surprising change was the absence of Mark Creighton, injured in training on Thursday. He was replaced by Scotland under-21 international Ross Perry, making his first start for the Us since joining on loan from Rangers. On 72 minutes Adam Chapman came on for skipper Murray, and ten minutes later Sam Deering replaced Cook. As the game entered stoppage time Midson was taken off, with Alfie Potter getting a brief run.

Today's referee was Kevin Johnson, whose last appearance in an Oxford game was a rather more free-scoring 6-3 win over Eastbourne Borough back in August last year. He was okay, all things considered, although he did allow the Barrow back line, especially Paul Jones and Robin Hulbert, to get away with an incredible number of fouls before taking any action. He also booked Batt for a late challenge. The attendance was 5,629 of whom an unknown number, alleged to be 86, braved the Cumbrian floods to get here.

United remain five points clear at the top of the Conference because Stevenage Borough won 1-0 at Forest Green Rovers, United's next opponents this Tuesday. Barrow remain in 16th place. Kettering Town are still third, despite losing 2-0 at home to Kidderminster, while fourth-placed Mansfield Town were held to a 1-1 home draw by fifth-bottom Eastbourne. York City have climbed to fourth place after winning 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon, displacing Luton Town from the play-off places. Luton were cruising to a 2-0 win over ninth-placed Cambridge United, but conceded two goals in the last ten minutes, including an injury-time penalty.

Bottom side Chester City were beaten 3-1 at home by Altrincham, but Ebbsfleet United were unable to increase their 13-point gap, going down 1-0 at home to Tamworth. Grays Athletic remain third from bottom thanks to a Daryl Clare hat-trick that gave sixth-bottom Gateshead a 3-0 win. Salisbury City were beaten 3-1 at home by seventh-placed Rushden & Diamonds, while Wrexham and Histon fought out a goalless draw. [@news]2596[/@news][@opponent]barrow[/@opponent]