Oxford United move into the New Year no longer at the top of the Conference, after they dropped another two home points in a disappointing 1-1 draw with Crawley Town[@opponent]Crawley Town[/@opponent]. Unlike the Boxing Day game against Woking, United were much quicker out of the blocks today, and most of the first half action took place in the Crawley half. However, chances were few and far between, and Ben Hamer had relatively straightforward saves to make from Yemi Odubade and Gavin Johnson, who also mishit wide a shot that he should have done better with. Just before the break Andy Burgess hit a first-time shot just wide. In the third minute of the signalled two-minutes added time, Burgess was dispossessed on the halfway line, and Tony Scully broke clear, skipped past the sliding Billy Turley, and slotted home from a narrow angle. This was Crawley's only real attempt of the half.

Oxford continued to press in the second half, only with a bit more urgency. Credit must go to Crawley who didn't sit on their lead but who continued to take the game to United. Shortly after Hamer did well to tip over a Yemi header, Turley was called on to make a brilliant save from Scott Rendell when he looked certain to make it 2-0. Oxford should have had a penalty moments later when Yemi was pushed to the ground, but United's appeals were waved away. Rob Duffy then set up Steve Basham, whose volley went just over, before Hamer saved again from Hargreaves. Just as it looked like United were never going to score again, Duffy swept the ball into the net, looking suspiciously offside, from Andy Burgess's knock on, with just ten minutes left. Crawley now decided that a draw was worth hanging on to, and began to pile men behind the ball, while Oxford were unable to take advantage of their momentum and the game petered out into a draw.

Jim Smith made a couple of changes from the side that drew with Woking. Hargreaves started in midfield in place of the hapless John Dempster, while Rufus Brevett was rested and Johnson resumed at left wingback. Up front, Yemi was granted a rare starting place, with Bash on the bench. [@news]619[/@news]With 20 minutes remaining, United made a double substitution, with Bash replacing Johnson and Brevett coming on for Eddie Anaclet, although in fact it was the Roof who went on the left and Bash on the right. With two minutes to go Dempster was invited to stamp his mark on the game, replacing Matt Day.

Today's mastermind in the middle was Mike Mullarkey, taking charge of an Oxford game for the first time. He wasn't as inept as some other officials we have seen, but was still able to deny United a blatant penalty, as described above. He booked Bash for an off-the-ball incident, although we're not sure why. Today's attendance was 6,368, of whom only 138 flew in from Gatwick. We hope to publish a match report sometime. Maybe even tomorrow. If someone sends one in, then you wouldn't have to read our usual rubbish. Ahem.

The two dropped points mean that United have been knocked off the top spot by Dagenham & Redbridge, whose 1-0 home win over Halifax sends them above the Us on goal difference. The Daggers have a +26 GD, compared to United's +25. Both sides have 50 points. The draw moves Crawley up two places to 19th, out of the relegation zone on goal difference, with 23 points. Burton Albion have moved up to third, seven points behind the top two, after they won 2-1 at Cambridge United, who are now 17th. Weymouth have dropped to fourth, level on points with Burton, after losing 1-0 at home to Stevenage Borough, who are now 10th. United's next opponents at home, Morecambe, occupy the last play-off place after their 1-0 win at bottom club Tamworth, who have 20 points.

Southport are still above Tamworth on goal difference after they lost 1-0 at home to Kidderminster, who are now 11th. Above the bottom two are four clubs on 23 points, the bottom of which are St Albans, who lost 2-1 at home to Exeter City, United's next opponents on New Year's Day, who are now 8th. Forest Green Rovers are 21st after they drew 2-2 at Altrincham, while Rushden & Diamonds are just above the relegation zone after losing 1-0 at Gravesend, who are up to 6th. The games between Aldershot and Grays Athletic, and Stafford and Northwich Victoria, were both abandoned because of waterlogged pitches.