Aaaaaarrrghyle

United went down to the league leaders today and came away with exactly what everyone expected: nothing. If it wasn't for a spirited first half fight back to come from 2-0 down to 2-2, then the eventual scoreline of 4-2 could have been a lot worse. The Us held out until the 21st minute before Graham Coughlan opened the scoring, and Lee Hodges doubled Argyle's lead three minutes later.

Then came Oxford's comeback which should have seen the half-time score level as goals from David Morley in the 34th minute and Paul Powell seven minutes later restored parity, but Andy Crosby gave away a needless free kick in dangerous territory and Ian Stonebridge gave the home side the lead again in injury time. Stonebridge then restored Plymouth's two goal advantage within 20 seconds of the restart and this time there was no United revival.

Ian Atkins made two changes from the Torquay starting line-up. Sam Ricketts started instead of Sam Stockley and Phil Gray began up front with Paul Moody on the bench. United started with the now usual 5-3-2 formation, but after Argyle went two up they reverted to 4-4-2 and immediately scored two goals. Moody replaced Gray four minutes after the break and with fourteen minutes left Manny Omoyinmi came on for Dean Whitehead.

Referee B Curson, who took charge of United's LDV Trophy tie at Northampton, booked Crosby and Robert Quinn (his third booking in successive games). The attendance was 8,239 and a match report can be found here.

United have slipped one place to 14th as a result of this defeat, Hartlepool climbing above Oxford following their 5-1 win over Rushden & Diamonds. Plymouth's lead at the top is now seven points after second placed Luton lost 3-2 at Darlington. Halifax remain bottom after their 4-0 defeat at Scunthorpe, who now occupy seventh position, eleven points ahead of Oxford. United's next opponents, Bristol Rovers, didn't play today, their FA Cup match at Gillingham called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Phil Whelan scored for Southend in their 1-1 draw with Torquay at Roots Hall. Former United right back John Robertson scored Ayr United's third in their 3-0 win over Dunfermline in the Scottish FA Cup.