United started their first Conference campaign with a win against Halifax Town, widely tipped to be one of the title challengers this season. Oxford won 2-0 thanks to a 16th minute Rob Duffy penalty, and a 30-yard wonder strike by Andy Burgess, 20 minutes from the end.

This was a tough test with which to open the season, Halifax losing last year’s play-off final to Hereford United, and it was therefore always going to be a useful benchmark against which United’s new-look side could measure themselves. Oxford began the game comfortably enough, and had already had a couple of dangerous attacks when Duffy was brought down by Halifax keeper Craig Mawsom. Duffy picked himself up and then sent Mawsom the wrong way from the spot kick. Duffy almost doubled the lead five minutes before half time, when his looping header from a Gavin Johnson cross went just over the bar.

Halifax came back strongly at Oxford at the start of the second half, but were unable to find the killer ball with which to trouble Billy Turley. The next scoring chance fell to United, about 15 minutes into the second half, when Burgess created some room for himself to get a shot in from the edge of the area, but it was a tame effort and an easy enough save for Mawsom. Burgess more than made amends on 70 minutes, when he picked up the ball in the centre of the Halifax half, ignored the option of spreading the ball wide to Carl Pettefer, and instead his hard, low, accurate shot from 30 yards curled past Mawsom and inside the post. Goal of the season (so far).

It was important that United had a winning start, given the expectations surrounding the club, and in the end this turned out to be a comfortable, if hard-fought, victory over a Halifax side that caused the Us some problems with their passing, despite lacking the final ball. The concern might be that United’s goals came from the penalty spot and a superb, once-a-season, strike, but that otherwise the Yellows found chances hard to come by.

There are always new faces in the side at the start of the season, and today there were no fewer than six players making their first competitive senior appearance for the Yellows, plus Phil Gilchrist, who was last seen around these parts around ten years ago. Turley won the race for the goalkeeper’s shirt, while the three centre backs comprised new signing Matt Day, who had a steady match, Barry Quinn, revelling in his new role, and the returning Gilchrist, skipper for the season. Both wing backs were making their first appearances for United, with Eddie Odhiambo-Anaclet and Gavin Johnson both having decent games, with Anaclet looking very good going forward and Johnson very capable in a more defensive role. The midfield trio saw Eddie Hutchinson making his debut, with John Dempster again having a decent match in his new role, and Carl Pettefer having a steady game alongside him. Up front Burgess played just behind new boy Duffy, who put himself about a bit before running out of steam. Jim Smith shook the side up slightly after an hour, replacing Steady Eddie Hutchinson with the pacey Yemi Odubade going up front, allowing Burgess to drop back into midfield. Ten minutes later, as United celebrated Burgess’s goal, Steve Basham replaced the limping Duffy, and a further ten minutes on, Chris Hargreaves came on for the impressive Burgess.

Unietd’s first non-league referee in 44 years was P Gibbs, who had never previously had the honour of reffing a United game. He tried his best, bless him, but he was occasionally found wanting. He showed a yellow card to Day for a foul, and another one to Hutchinson for instigating a mass brawl. The first non-league attendance at the United Stadium was 5,785, which is respectable, but not brilliant (although more than double the next highest attendance in the Conference today). A match report should appear later.

Oxford were one of seven Conference teams to open with a win, although only two others won by two goals. St Albans won 3-1 at Kidderminster, while Weymouth won by the same scoreline at Tamworth. Title favourites Stevenage lost 2-1 at Altrincham, while Aldershot came back from 20- down to beat Gravesend & Northfleet 3-2. United’s next opponents, Dagenham & Redbrige, won 1-0 at Forest Green Rovers, while Burton, whom United visit on Friday, won 1-0 at Morecambe. Crawley Town, on the brink of going into liquidation, beat Rushden & Diamonds 1-0.