Well, the good feeling generated by the win at Cheltenham last week didn’t last long. United were beaten by a very poor, but pretty determined, Cambridge side at the Abbey this afternoon, in miserable drizzley and cold weather. After a poor, but fairly even, first half, Steve Basham scored an exellent goal in off the far post to give the Us the lead on the stroke of half-time. For the first 25 minutes of the second half, Oxford were all over Cambridge, who hardly got out of their own half. If United had taken even half of the chances they created they would have run up their best score of the season, but as it was they couldn’t convert anything. With 20 minutes to go substitute John Turner scored on a rare Cambridge break following good work by Justin Walker. The goal gave the home side a bit of heart, and they started to get more into the game, although United continued to dominate. Then, in the final minute, Shane Tudor was left totally unmarked to steer the ball home to cruelly deny the Us anything from the game.

As expected, Leo Roget came in for the suspended Mateo Corbo at centre back to partner Jon Ashton, although coach Horacio Rodriguez sprang two surprises elsewhere. Firstly, replacing Matt Robinson at left back was Dave Woozley who, to be fair, demonstrated that his skills lay, er, elsewhere. Secondly, Craig Davies was left on the bench as Basham was preferred up front alongside Tommy Mooney. It didn’t take Davies long to get into the game though, as Mooney was elbowed in the back of the head after quarter of an hour and had to go off for stitches. This was the only substitution United made during the game.

The day’s referee was A Woolmer, who was also in charge of United’s LDV Vans Trophy tie against Exeter. Woolmer had a very erratic game, showing cards for fouls hardly deserving of even a whistle, while on the other hand letting go unpunished some very dangerous looking tackles. To be fair, both teams suffered equally at Woolmer’s hands, although Oxford’s bookings tally included the recalled Roget, Chris Hackett, Lee Bradbury, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and so will miss the Grimsby game next Saturday, and Juan Pablo Raponi, whose booking mystified everyone. The attendance was just 3,745, and we hope to publish a match report tomorrow sometime (although if anyone wishes to submit one we’d be very grateful).

The defeat drops Oxford down a place to 16th, and leaves them now eight points off the play-offs, which seem but a forlorn hope after this latest setback. Cambridge, meanwhile, have lifted themselves off the foot of the table, one point above Kidderminster, who drew 1-1 at Rochdale, who now lie 15th. Cambridge are still six points below Rushden, who were held 0-0 by Mansfield, and they are a further four points below Chester, who were thumped 5-0 at Shrewsbury. Bury are also ten points above the drop zone, after their 1-0 defeat at 5th-placed Southend.

Yeovil remain five points clear at the top, despite losing 2-1 at United’s next opponents, Grimsby. Beneath the Glovers are four teams level on 60 points, with Scunthorpe leading the pack despite losing 2-1 at Swansea, who are 4th. In 3rd place are Macclesfield, whose good run continued with a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers. Sixth are Lincoln, who lost 1-0 at Cheltenham, back up to 9th while Northampton are back in the final play-off place after their 1-0 win at Boston. Darlington are 8th after Lee Steele’s goal gave Orient the points at Brisbane Road.