Oxford United secured their second consecutive win this afternoon, narrowly beating bottom-of-the-table Droyslden 1-0, thanks to a goal on the half hour by captain Barry Quinn. This was the first time the Us have had back-to-back wins since August, when they won 2-1 at Burton Albion and then beat Stafford Rangers 2-1 at home. Although the narrow scoreline doesn't accurately reflect the balance of play, which was largely in United's favour, this was by no means a routine victory over a very poor Bloods side.[@news]2275[/@news][@opponent]droylsden[/@opponent]

It was Oxford, buoyed by their 3-0 win over Histon last week, who made all the early running, and almost all the first stages of the game were played in the Droylsden half. The first real chance came after ten minutes, when Justin Richards chested a ball down for Matt Green to shoot straight at Paul Phillips. Droylsden had their only sight of Billy Turley's goal just before the half hour, when Jody Banim's shot curled wide, but two minutes later United took the lead, following a foul on Green. Adam Murray's free kick drifted over the visitors' defence to the far post, where Quinn had drifted unmarked to sidefoot a volley into the net. There was still time before the break for Richards to burst through and have his shot palmed away by Phillips.

The second half was a similar story, with United on top but unable to break down the massed ranks of the Droylsden rearguard. Oxford came close on a couple of occasions, first when Matthew Blackwood's first time bullet of a shot was deflected over, on the hour mark. Then, as the game was drawing to its close, Yemi Odubade hit Danny Rose's long cross first time, but his shot was blocked. Yemi was first to the rebound and set up Richards, who spooned over from eight yards. With United getting increasingly nervous defending their one-goal lead, Droylsden had their first real opportunity to score in the final minute of added time, when a low cross was just missed by one onrushing forward, while the second onrushing forward got his toe to the ball but diverted it just wide of the post, to almost earn the Bloods an unlikely point.

Darren Patterson made just one change to the side that beat Histon last Saturday, started Eddie Odhiambo-Anaclet on the right wing instead of Yemi. Just after the hour Green was replaced by Yemi, who went up front alongside Richards. Nine minutes later Rose came on for Anaclet, while another seven minutes passed before Craig McAllister made his comeback from the injury he received in the home defeat by Weymouth, by replacing Michael Blackwood. He joined Richards up front, to revive the partnership they shared at Woking two years ago, while Yemi moved to the right wing, where he used his pace to good effect.

The referee today was Rob Merchant, the first time the gentleman in question has had the privilege of taking charge of an Oxford United game. He was a bog-standard Conference official, making his fair share of mistakes, but doing a few good things too. One of the less good things was booking Adam Murray, but as the midfielder didn't have one of his better games who's complaining? Today's attendance was 4,331, of whom a mahusive 43 were in the away end. Surely the lowest away following for a proper competitive fixture at Oxford since records were kept for this sort of thing?

The win takes Oxford back into the top half of the table, up to 12th, but they have played two games more then 13th-placed Kidderminster Harriers, who are two points behind, and three games more than 14th-placed Grays Athletic, who are three points away. Leaders Aldershot play fourth-placed Stevenage Borough tomorrow, so Torquay United moved to within three points of them by beating ninth-placed Ebbsfleet United 3-1, with Chris Zebroski scoring the Gulls' second. Cambridge United moved up to third after winning 2-1 at Halifax, but Burton dropped to fifth after losing 2-0 at Salisbury City, who climbed to eighth. Exeter City are sixth after winning 2-0 at Grays, while Forest Green Rovers lost some ground, losing 2-1 at home to third-bottom Stafford Rangers.

Droylsden obviously remain bottom with no away wins, two points adrift of Northwich Victoria, whose game with Weymouth was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Stafford are now three points above Droylsden, while Farsley Celtic moved to within two points of Altrincham, who lost 1-0 at Rushden & Diamonds, by beating Woking 3-0.