Stevenage Borough 1 Oxford United 0

The season's not quite over, but Oxford have had all their chances and let them slip right through their hands. Following last night's defeat at Broadhall Way to a controversial penalty, the Us have conceded the title and must now regroup to ensure that they are able to contest the play-offs with some decent form behind them. The penalty was awarded in the 52nd minute after a slip by David Bridges, and Scott Laird defied the pressure to convert easily.

Chris Wilder made three changes to the starting line-up of the side that scraped a 2-1 win over Gateshead on Saturday. The biggest surprise was Mark Creighton replacing Rhys Day in the centre of defence; a decision that Creighton fully justified with a towering performance at the back. In midfield Chris Hargreaves, as expected, replaced Lewis Chalmers, while up front (or out wide) Matt Green came in for Jamie Cook. With United chasing the game, Alfie Potter came on for Hargreaves in the 63rd minute, and six minutes later an injury to Creighton saw him replaced by Rhys Day.

Oxford can have no complaints about last night's result. The home side were clearly more determined than the visitors, and they coped better with the slippery conditions. Oxford's defence coped admirably with the threat of ex-Us Yemi Odubade and Tim Sills, but at the other end Mark Roberts and Jon Ashton dominated against James Constable and Green. Stevenage should have taken the lead as early as the third minute when the ball fell invitingly for Mitchell Cole, but the winger shot hopelessly wide. A key moment in the game came when Constable was breaking through and was blatantly tripped by Ashton, but the referee bottled the decision. After a couple of half chances by Adam Chapman and Sam Deering, the hosts started to turn up the heat. Andy Drury broke through and rounded Ryan Clarke, but the angle was too tight for him to shoot or get an effective cross in, and right on the stroke of half-time Drury's deep cross was met by Sills five yards out, but he could only head against the top of the bar when he should have scored.

The second half was only five minutes old when the referee again took centre stage, awarding the home side a very soft penalty, which Laird despatched with aplomb. Clarke was then forced into a good save from a rasping Chris Beardsley drive, but United could only respond with a couple more half-chances. Chris Day did well to tip over a free-kick from Simon Clist, and then Matt Green had a couple of headers go wide. But for all their huffing and puffing, United lacked the quality to seriously worry a very good Stevenage side.

Wilder now has to rally his troops again to get them back in the right frame of mind to push on for the play-offs, which Oxford surely can't blow now, having a 13-point lead over sixth-placed Kettering Town and a 15-point lead over AFC Wimbledon in seventh place? However, having seen how little courage the players have for a big tame, he must be worried that they lack the bottle to go up by the back door, especially considering the quality of their likely opponents. The injury to Adam Murray, and the lack of any other creative midfielder, could be the nail that will yet cost United the whole season.

Last night's referee was Steve Creighton, who also took charge of United's recent 1-0 win over Rushden & Diamonds. On that occasion he awarded the Us two penalties, but he was not in the mood to dish out any favours yesterday. However, apart from his two match-changing decisions, he had a reasonably competent game, and he didn't book any Oxford players, which was nice. The attendance was a reasonably impressive 5,744 which was boosted by a sold out away end of 1,700 plus an unknown number of Oxford supporters in the home end.

The defeat drops United to third in the table, eight points behind Borough, after Luton Town beat Salisbury City 4-0 to move three points ahead of Oxford, albeit having played a game more. However, Luton's goal difference has taken a turn for the better, the Hatters having scored 18 in their last three games, whereas the Us can hardly buy a goal at present. Fourth-placed Rushden & Diamonds moved to within three points of Oxford after their impressive 3-0 win at Kettering, with Craig Farrell scoring the first goal and Jefferson Louis hitting the bar. Fifth-placed York City are five points below Oxford after they won 4-0 at bottom-side Grays Athletic, who are 17 points from safety with six games remaining.

There was a dramatic climax at Kingsmeadow, where Wimbledon went 2-1 down to Wrexham in the first minute of added time, but then equalised from a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Eastbourne Borough climbed out of the relegation zone into 20th place with a 2-1 win over 19th-placed Gateshead, with Simon Weatherstone opening the scoring from the penalty spot. In last night's other game, Kidderminster Harriers beat Cambridge United 1-0. [@news]2689[/@news][@opponent]stevenage borough[/@opponent]