Yesterday Oxford United and Crawley Town, opponents on Saturday, reached contradictory conclusions concerning their respective points deductions. Oxford, docked five points, decided against appealing on the basis that they would, at best, be returned two points, but they risked losing a further six. Crawley, on the other hand, felt that they had been dealt with more harshly by the Conference incompetents, and that their four-point deduction was a harsher penalty for a lesser offence. Bognor Regis Town, deducted seven points by the Conference at the same time as United and Crawley, have also accepted their fate and are not going to appeal. Meanwhile, the Conference have announced an internal review in order to sort out their maladministration. This will take a month, but United supporters are naive if they believe that the conclusions will result in some or all of Oxford's points being restored. This is the real world; deal with it.

An Oxford side featuring four triallists lost 3-0 at Didcot Town last night. Ben Hinchliffe played in goal, while Alex Fisher, on work experience at Oxford City, Marvin Martin, at Kidlington, and Ian Sampson, at Didcot, all featured for the Us, as did Matt Day and Joe Burnell. The triallists were Mark McGrath, recently released by Kidderminster Harriers, ex-Darlington players striker Jason Bradley and left back Adam Green, and Ramon Caliste, who played in the same Wales under-21 side as Craig Davies. Fisher was injured after half an hour, possibly with ligament damage, while Michael Bartley, Andy Williams, and Jack King scored for the Railwaymen.

Tonight's Conference results saw United drop two places to 11th, and fall to nine points off the play-offs. Burton Albion extended their lead at the top of the table to 17 points after their 2-1 win over Barrow last night, with second-placed Histon losing 2-0 at Kidderminster Harriers, who are in fifth place. Stevenage Borough have gone third after their 2-1 win over 12th-placed Kettering Town, while Torquay United's 2-0 win at second-bottom Lewes leaves them fourth. Sixth-placed Wrexham needed a last-minute penalty to rescue a point in a 3-3 home draw with bottom side Northwich Victoria. Cambridge United, who Oxford play on Thursday, are now down in seventh place, three points above Crawley, who needed a last-minute goal to draw 4-4 at Ebbsfleet United.

Eastbourne Borough have gone up to ninth place following their 4-0 win at fifth-bottom Woking, and Rushden & Diamonds have snuck above Oxford after they drew 0-0 at Mansfield Town. Forest Green Rovers remain third from bottom after drawing 2-2 at fourth-bottom Salisbury City. Stuart Beavon was again on target for Weymouth, who drew 1-1 at Grays Athletic, while Altrincham and York City drew 1-1 at Moss Lane.