Oxford United 1 Stevenage Borough 1

Oxford United were held at home by Stevenage Borough this afternoon, although they may well feel that they should have won. This was United's first home game in almost a month, and they started strongly, looking to extend their home winning streak to six games. However, after a couple of decent efforts by James Constable, followed by a fine save by Billy Turley from Steve Morison, it was Borough who took an unlikely lead, profiting from a mistake by Turley. United's goalkeeper's throw to Matt Day put the defender under pressure, with David Bridges pouncing on the loose ball to curl it into the net beyond Turley's reach. United continued to press, and two minutes before the break were rewarded when Constable controlled an Adam Murray corner before blasting the ball past Chris Day.[@news]2427[/@news][@opponent]stevenage borough[/@opponent]

United continued to dominate in the second half, but were always vulnerable to the Stevenage counter attacks. However, with the visitors trying to waste time at any opportunity, it was clear that they were extremely happy to get a point from a venue where they've never earned one before. Lewis Haldane went close, as did Phil Trainer and Murray, but they were unable to breach the Stevenage rearguard. At the back, there were solid performances from Matt Day and Luke Foster, but there were also a number of frustrating decisions and passes going awry, and any watching new manager must have realised that it's not going to be a paricularly easy ride to manage Oxford. The point was deserved, and it could easily have been three, but in the first half the visitors might have felt hard-done by not going in ahead at the interval.

Jim Smith, in what was possibly his last game in charge of Oxford, made two changes to the side that started at AFC Sudbury last weekend. Haldane started in the left wing-back role, in place of Chris Carruthers, while Trainer was recalled to midfield in place of Eddie Hutchinson. Smith made a double substitution in the 66th minute, bringing on Hutch and Yemi Odubade for Trainer and Jamie Guy, who had failed to make an impression. After the match, Smith revealed that Barry Quinn's ankle injury is likely to keep him out of the side for the remainder of the season, while midfielder Paul Evans' contract will probably be cancelled. He also remarked on the thinness of the squad, claiming that the new manager will have to bring in more players, although he neglected to mention how that would be financed.

Today's referee was Dean Mohareb, who was in charge of Oxford's 1-0 win at York City at the end of last season. He certainly liked to let the game flow, and showed a marked reluctance to produce his cards, which was probably to Stevenage's benefit more than Oxford's. He did show a yellow to Foster for a tackle that could easily have seen him dismissed, but was generally over-lenient. The attendance was 4,343, which is not too shabby for the last Saturday before Christmas, especially when considering that there were only 86 in the away section, which is pathetic considering the size and relative distance of Stevenage.

The point leaves United 13th in the table, while Stevenage moved up one place to 10th. Northwich Victoria remain bottom after going down 2-1 at eighth-placed Rushden & Diamonds, with Lewes still second bottom after they lost 2-0 at home to Woking, who have moved out of the relegation zone to 20th place. Forest Green Rovers have dropped to third from bottom after losing 2-0 at home to Kettering Town, with Mark Cooper's team remaining ninth. Grays Athletic have moved up to 21st after beating Barrow, who remain in 17th. Mansfield Town have moved up to 19th after their 2-1 win over Weymouth, who have dropped to 11th.

Burton Albion remain top after winning 3-1 at 15th-placed Altrincham, and Histon are still second, despite losing 4-1 at Torquay United, who have gone up to third. Tim Sills scored Torquay's fourth. Kidderminster Harriers' 2-0 defeat at Crawley sees them drop to fourth, with Crawley staying fifth, 11 points above United. Cambridge United stay sixth, despite beating United's next opponents, 18th-placed Salisbury City, 4-0. Wrexham's 5-0 win over 16th-placed Eastbourne Borough doesn't move them above seventh place. Jefferson Louis scored Wrexham's second. The day's other game saw York City climb to 14th place after beating 12th-placed Ebbsfleet United 3-1.