A well-taken hat-trick by Derek Townsley secured a comfortable win for United at Doctor Martens Premier League side Moor Green in Birmingham this afternoon. The Us were given a scare as early as the 7th minute when former Aston Villa player Jai Stanley hit an unstoppable shot from 27.5 yards to give the home side a deserved lead.

Andy Woodman had already had to make a good stop to save his blushes after his weak kick had given Moor Green a good chance, and they went close again with a couple of angled shots, with Jimmy Haarhoff looking particularly lively. It was some good work by Dean Whitehead that set up Townsley to equalise in the 27th minute.

After a half-time rollicking from Ian Atkins, during which he was heard telling the players not to hoof the ball to the big chap up front, United started the second half looking far more purposeful. However, it wasn’t until ROS Chris Hackett came on after ten minutes that the game turned Oxford’s way. Playing at right-wingback Hackett was a revelation, his pace and trickery always getting the better of his marker, and his crosses almost always accurate and dangerous.

United took the lead in the 67th minute when Hackett, having been sent down the wing by Whitehead, crossed for Townsley to volley home his second. It was Hackett’s cross again which gave Townsley his third after 74 minutes. Meanwhile the Rage On sponsored winger also found time to hit the bar with a curving left-footed drive, a feat matched by Mark Rawle with a spectacular overhead kick.

As Atkins had already stated that the first half would feature the starting eleven for next week’s game at Lincoln it was with some surprise to see at right centre-back triallist Scott Marshall (formerly of Arsenal, Southampton and Brentford, and whose loan spells have included Oxford, Celtic and Sheffield United). Marshall had a good, solid performance at the back, but was unfortunate to take a knock shortly before United equalised. He soldiered on until being replaced by Hackett, but was clearly suffering from the injury.

The rest of the line-up was more or less as one would expect, with Whitehead, Townsley and Danny Brown in midfield, and Julian Alsop partnered by Andy Scott up front. Neither of the front pair looked particularly sharp, although Alsop went close with a couple of headers. Brown also went close after being put through by Alsop, but was denied by a brave save from Adam Rachel.

Other substitutions for United included Whitehead being replaced by Manny Omoyinmi and Tommy Widdrington coming on for Townsley (who was told in no uncertain terms by David Oldfield that he wouldn’t be allowed to keep the match ball!) before Matt Robinson went off to be replaced by Paul Powell. Rawle came on for Scott, who had taken a knock and finally ROS Dexter Blackstock was given a run out in place of Alsop.

No United player had a particularly poor game, although Brown seemed a bit subdued, and Scott found it difficult to get involved in the action, but overall, bearing in mind the opposition is two divisions lower than the Us, optimism levels should be reasonably high after this afternoon.