A second half defensive collapse allowed Hull to inflict Oxford’s second defeat of the season and end United’s 17 match unbeaten run. The teams went in level at the break after a fairly even first half, but 13 minutes into the second period United were undone by a surging run from Stuart Elliot, who beat Dean Whitehead and Paul Wanless before setting up Ben Burgess, who beat Andy Woodman with a curling shot from ten yards. Just five minutes later Danny Allsopp scored his customary goal against Oxford with the aid of a deflected shot and he scored his second three minutes later with a soft shot that Woody should have saved. Thirteen minutes from time Steve Basham pulled a goal back from Oxford, but any thoughts of a Us revival were ended just three minutes later when Andy Crosby headed into his own goal from a Hull corner. In the final minute a Matt Bound thunderbolt from a free kick salvaged a smidgeon of respectability to the final scoreline.

Despite promises/threats to make changes Ian Atkins only made one alteration to last Saturday’s starting line-up, giving Richie Foran his first start for United at the expense of Jefferson Louis. With Oxford 3-0 down Atkins made his first substitution, bringing on Mark Rawle for Dean Whitehead. Five minutes later he replaced Foran with Louis. Substitutions that were too late and failed dramatically to alter the course of the game.

Referee Graham Salisbury had an excellent match, making two early bookings. Foran got a yellow card for a challenge that was so late it’s still happening now, and Matt Robinson was also yellow-carded for his part in the barney that followed. That apart there were no incidents in the game, that was played in good spirit by both sides. The attendance of 21,491 was the highest in either of the bottom two divisions. A match report should be posted tomorrow.

The defeat leaves Oxford in third place, three points behind Hull but with a game in hand, and two points behind Doncaster who won 2-0 at third-bottom Southend. United remain four points clear of fourth placed Mansfield, who lost 3-1 at Orient. Yeovil are a further three points behind after losing 2-0 at bottom club Carlisle, for whom Paul Simpson opened the scoring. Carlisle are now just four points behind Darlington, who drew 1-1 at Kidderminster, and seven points from safety.

Huddersfield have gone 6th after beating Boston 2-0, the Terriers’ fifth consecutive victory, and Lincoln have slipped a place to seventh after losing 3-1 at home to eighth placed Torquay. Swansea have dropped to ninth after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by fourth-bottom Cheltenham. York’s play-off challenge stuttered with a 2-1 defeat at Northampton.

In the Conference Manny Omoyinmi scored in the 90th minute of his first game back on loan at Margate to rescue a point in their 1-1 draw at Exeter. Howard Forinton was also on target, scoring Farnborough’s second in their 2-0 win at Leigh RMI. Danny Cullip was on target for Brighton, scoring their consolation in their 2-1 defeat at QPR