Oxford United 0 Tamworth 1

This was a game of firsts: United's first home defeat of the season, their first defeat by Tamworth, and the first time that goalkeeper Ryan Clarke made a significant blunder. At the other end, Oxford failed to score for just the second time this season, so while the result and performance were disappointing, as was the missed opportunity to return to the top of the Conference, it is still to early to assume that this season is going to be a replica of 2006-07.

United started with all guns blazing, and could have gone ahead in the first minute when Alfie Potter raced clear and lobbed Danny Alcock, only to see the ball roll narrowly wide. Shortly afterwards Alcock saved easily from James Constable, and it wasn't long before Constable again had an opportunity, shooting straight at the 'keeper. Oxford were to regret their failure to capitalise on their strong start as Tamworth started to get more into the game. United's new-look back line was looking slightly nervy, with a lack of communication evident. Potter almost got on the end of a Franny Green cross, and at the other end debutant Anthony Tonkin made a couple of decent clearances while under pressure. There was a moment of controversy when Tamworth were awarded a hotly disputed corner, the ball having failed to cross the line, from which Tom Shaw handled before shooting against the bar. The game's only goal came on 28 minutes, with Oxford again on the attack. Tamworth broke quickly, and with Iyesden Christie lacking support he tried a speculative lob. It looked an easy catch for the goalie, but he allowed the ball to slip through his hands and worm its way into the net. It was clearly an own goal, but it would appear that Christie has been credited with it.

In the second half United were more attack minded, and for the last 20 minutes threw everything at the dogged Tamworth defence. Superb blocks were made from strikes by Matt Green and Constable, with Alcock performing heroics to keep the Us at bay, including one outstanding tip over from a Constable drive. However, for all their pressure, United lacked the necessary guile to unlock the Lambs, and were too often guilty of poor decision-making. Tamworth were good value for their win, slowing the game down and, apart from when they were under the cosh for the final part of the game they continued to look to attack. But this was a disappointing way to restart the season after the lengthy delay, and United's frustration was summed up in the final minute, when Damian Batt was yellow carded for protesting against an offside decision that ruled out a goal from Mark Creighton. He then received a second yellow card for swearing at the referee, which is something most of the crowd were doing, but not really too clever for a professional footballer to indulge in.

Chris Wilder gave debuts to Tomkin and Jake Wright, but Lee Fowler failed to even make the bench; nor did Kevin Sandwith nor want-away Luke Foster. The only other change to the side that drew at Salisbury City all that time ago was the return of skipper Adam Murray in place of Jack Midson. Five minutes after the break Wilder made a double substitution, bringing on Batt for Adam Chapman and Matt Green for Franny Green; possibly the only time that one United player has replaced another with the same surname as him. Or not, who knows? Midson came on for Potter ten minutes later.

Today's referee was John Hopkins, who officiated at United's 1-0 win over Mansfield Town last season. Not for the first time in these parts he failed to endear himself, with a series of perplexing decisions, although he was not helped at all by his appalling assistants. To be fair, he was reasonably consistent and stamped down frequently on the visitors' worst time-wasting excesses. In addition to the two yellows that he waved at Batt, he also booked Creighton and Wright. The attendance was 5,690, of whom 141 went home happy.

Today's match was one of just six Conference games that beat the weather this afternoon. While United missed the chance to go above Stevenage Borough, whose game at Wrexham was postponed, York City took advantage to close the gap on the Us to four points, having played a game more. The Minstermen beat Hayes & Yeading 4-1, with Chris Carruthers opening the scoring, while Scott Fitzgerald grabbed Hayes' consolation in stoppage time. This left Hayes in 15th place, two points behind 13th-placed Tamworth. AFC Wimbledon moved up to fourth by beating fifth-placed Mansfield Town 2-0.

At the bottom end of the table, Ebbsfleet United went third from bottom after losing 2-1 at home to Altrincham, while Forest Green Rovers leapfrogged Gateshead with a 1-0 win at the New Lawn. This lifted Rovers out of the relegation zone at the Heeds' expense. Eastbourne Borough eased their relegation problems with a 1-0 win at Cambridge United that lifted them to 18th place. [@news]2637[/@news][@opponent]tamworth[/@opponent]