Oxford United 0 Forest Green Rovers 0

Oxford United dropped their first home points of the season in a disappointing goalless draw against the previously pointless Forest Green Rovers. So confident were the Oxford supporters of a home win that most left the ground feeling like the side had lost. In fact, Rovers can feel unlucky that they didn't take all three points as their game plan to stifle the Oxford midfield worked perfectly.

United created the better chances to score, but Matt Green squandered two glorious opportunities, including one in the first half, from an Adam Murray cross, that looked easier to score. James Constable also should have done better with a header after being set up by Mark Creighton, and Dannie Bulman had a long-range shot saved by Terry Burton, who otherwise was relatively untroubled throughout the game. At the other end Ryan Clarke had to get down well to save from Paul Stonehouse.

Forest Green disappointed with their gamesmanship, time wasting and feigning injury at every opportunity. However, Oxford will have to learn how to combat these tactics if they are to beat these sorts of teams at home, where the opposition will come to defend. Instead, with the midfielders given no time on the ball, United resorted to an ultimately ineffective long-ball game. This was a shame because when the side did get the ball on the deck and use the channels Forest Green looked very vulnerable.

One issue that this game did throw up was United's lack of attacking options on the bench, with Jack Midson out with an injured toe and Sam Deering apparently ill. This meant that Adam Chapman was the only substitute who could come on to affect the course of the game. When he did replace Alfie Potter, with just 12 minutes remaining, it was too late for him to have any influence. Chris Wilder made three changes to the side that beat Wimbledon two days earlier, Potter coming in for Chapman being one of them. Green was brought in for Marcus Kelly, while loan Ranger Steven Kinniburgh made his debut at left back, in place of Kevin Sandwith. Kinniburgh's performance was the one bright spot of the day, and he can be very happy with his contribution; so much so that Sandwith could have problems regaining his place.

Yesterday's referee was W Barrett, taking charge of an Oxford game for the first time. He didn't have too bad a game, although he did allow himself to get conned by the Forest Green Rovers' gamesmanship too often. On the one occasion he got it right he booked Sean Rigg for a dive so blatant that it should have UEFA rewriting the rule book that it recently threw at Eduardo. Mr Barrett also booked Constable for his irritating habit of constantly disputing every decision. The Bank Holiday attendance was a respectable 6,338, of whom 146 were from the Nailsworth neighbourhood.

Despite the disappointment of both the performance and the result, United remain top of the Conference thanks to second-placed Mansfield Town also being held to a home 0-0 draw, by seventh-placed Kettering Town. Forest Green remain second from bottom, despite bottom side Chester City earning a 1-1 draw at 10th-placed Altrincham. AFC Wimbledon moved up to third after they won 4-2 at fifth-bottom Grays Athletic, while Stevenage Borough's 2-0 win at Histon lifted them to fourth. Fifth place is occupied by Luton Town, who welcome Crawley Town to Kenilworth Road this evening. Tamworth's 2-1 win over Kidderminster Harriers takes them up to sixth place.

Gateshead, who were without a game yesterday, are third from bottom. United's opponents on Saturday, fourth-bottom Ebbsfleet United, won for the first time this season, 2-1 at Eastbourne Borough. The day's highest-scoring game was at Hayes & Yeading, where Salisbury City won 4-3. Wayne Hatswell scored Cambridge United's equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Rushden & Diamonds, while Wrexham were held to a goalless draw at home to Barrow. [@news]2551[/@news] [@opponent]forest green rovers[/@opponent]