Disoriented

United and Orient scuffled out a tame 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon in a game that suffered from meaningless end of season syndrome. David McGhee put the visitors ahead after 58 minutes, Andy Woodman palming his speculative shot into his own net in his first game as a proper United player. Somehow Orient failed to extend their lead and Oxford scored an unlikely equaliser when substitute Andy Scott slammed home a Jamie Brooks cross with just six minutes to go.

Woodman replaced Ian McCaldon in goal for Oxford and Paul Powell returned to the side in the left back position now that Lee Maddison is no longer at the club. Dave Waterman, signed as a midfielder, started at right back and Andy Crosby returned to skipper the side at Darren Patterson's expense. Paul Moody did his rotation bit with Phil Gray making way. United's first substitution, after 65 minutes, saw Andy Scott come on for Paul Tait, and five minutes later Sam Stockley replaced Dean Whitehead, with Waterman pushing up into midfield. Finally, with just ten minutes left, Simon King made his first appearance of the season at left back, replacing the hapless Powell.

Referee Lee Cable, who officiated at United's 0-0 draw in Swansea at the start of the season, booked Dave Savage and Dave Waterman. The attendance was 5,740. A match report is now available here, written by the happiest man in the ground (a Bolton supporter).

United remain rooted in 21st position following this draw, on course for their worst ever final position in the football league. Orient are just one place above the Us, York's 1-0 win at Swansea taking them above the Os. Luton's 4-0 win at Hull has taken them to the top of the table as Plymouth were held to a scoreless draw with Southend at Home Park. Argyle have played a game less. In the race for the third automatic promotion spot Cheltenham lost 1-0 at Macclesfield, but remain in third place despite Mansfield's 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers. Rochdale remain in the hunt thanks to a 3-1 win over Darlington, Dale's third being scored by our man Paul Simpson. Rushden, though, were held to a 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe. Bottom team Halifax went down 2-0 at home to Hartlepool, but as they're already relegated it doesn't really matter.

United's new opponents next season already include Cambridge United, who were beaten 5-0 at Wrexham but nevertheless the Welshmen will be joining us in Division Three next season too. Bournemouth's 0-0 draw at Port Vale has only delayed the inevitable as they are six points from safety with two games to play and they have an inferior goal difference. The final relegation position is occupied by Bury, who lost 2-0 at Bristol City, as Notts County beat Blackpool 1-0 and Northampton came closer to safety with a 4-1 win over Wycombe. The only other club that could possibly be relegated is Chesterfield, who lost 2-1 at home to Wigan.

In the Conference Mark Stein scored a last minute winner for Dagenham & Redbridge at Northwich Victoria to leave them just two points behind Boston, having played the same number of games.