In the game played as a thank you for Ben Abbey a United XI drew 0-0 at Doctor Martens League Crawley Town. Some United first-teamers were involved, including Richard Knight, John Robertson and Manny Omoyimni. Oxford City lost 1-0 at home to United’s opponents next Saturday, Slough Town.

Meanwhile Denis Smith has criticised his players for their somewhat lacklustre first half performance against Chelsea yesterday, and such was his ire that some of them even timorously apologised to him afterwards (or so he claimed). Smith has also criticised Mark Watson, claiming that he has messed the club around and that he wants to continue playing international football. However Smith also said that Watson wants to stay at United and Oxford want to keep him, so it’s a question on Monday of tying up the loose ends. Fellow centre-back Anders Jacobsen, on trial from Stoke City, has said that he would like to stay at Oxford, but first wants to be reassured that the Chelsea result was abnormal – sorry Anders, guess that means you’ll be on your way?