Oxford United put aside their recent scoring problems to easily beat Histon 3-0 at Grenoble Road this afternoon. The Cambridgeshire side had beaten United 1-0 in September, and given that Oxford hadn't scored in the last three games many supporters were concerned that the part-timers, who won the Conference South last season, might do the double over the Us. In the event, they needn't have been concerned, but Oxford were ultimately grateful to custodian extraordinaire Billy Turley, who saved two penalties to prevent the visitors first taking the lead, and then equalising.[@news]2270[/@news][@opponent]histon[/@opponent]

The game started at quite a high tempo, and the earlier exchanges saw Histon on the front foot. Neither side had created much, though, when Matt Day was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area after 14 minutes. Antonio Murray's penalty was very weak and too close to Turley, who dived to his right and saved comfortably. This incident sparked the crowd into life, and United responded well. Matt Green's deflected shot drifted just wide, but the striker soon justified Darren Patterson's faith in recalling him from Cardiff City with a glorious goal. Matt Day's excellent long pass found Green in space in the Histon area, and the forward swivelled and hit the ball on the volley past the stretching Danny Naisbitt. United were still celebrating the goal when Luke Foster, January's Player of the Month, made a stupidly rash challenge on Histon's Murray, with the player going nowhere, to gift the villagers another spot kick. This time Adie Cambridge did the honours, but his penalty was weak and too close to Turley, who dived to his left and saved comfortably. On the stroke of half time, Yemi Odubade evaded his marker for the first time, and Gareth Gwillim brought him down. From Day's free kick Justin Richards moved the ball to Michael Blackwood, whose turn beat the defender and set up Michael Howard, who shot powerfully into the net from the angle of the penalty area to double United's lead.

The second half started a bit like a game of ping pong, with Histon attacks being broken up for United to break, and their attacks being broken up allowing Histon to move forward. However, the part timers noticeably began to tire midway through the half, and the ball was spending longer in their half of the field. The new-look United had a lot of pace up front, with Yemi and Blackwood on the wings and Green up front. Yemi, unfortunately, was having one of those days when things just wouldn't go right, but Blackwood on the other flank was giving the Histon defence a torrid time, while Green and Richards were combining well. One run by Blackwood saw him get to the by-line, like a proper winger, only for Green to mis-hit his pull back straight at Naisbitt. Blackwood then had a chance of his own, shooting narrowly wide from an Eddie Anaclet cross after he had been played in by Green. With seven minutes remaining, Richards was brought down on the edge of the Histon area. Adam Murray looked to have overhit his free kick, but Eddie Hutchinson managed to head the ball back across the goal where Green stooped, unmarked, to head home. After that, Histon's heads dropped and the game was over as a contest.

This was a professional performance from the Yellows, who looked strong at the back, withstanding the Histon buffeting, and fast and threatening up front. The midfield occasionally failed to fire on all cylinders, but Hutchinson and Murray looked to be forging a decent understanding, their lack of creativity being made up by the use of real wingers. And when was the last time that the Us were able to boast a totally hair-free central midfield? It's early days, and Oxford supporters know better than most not to get carried away by one decent result, but there was definitely the promise of more to come from this side.

Patterson made three changes to the side that narrowly lost at Aldershot ten days ago. Day played at right back in place of Jamie Clarke, who had one of his rare off days against the Shots. Yemi played on the right wing instead of Anaclet, while Phil Trainer was dropped for the first time this season, as Blackwood was handed his debut on the left wing. With 15 minutes to go the disappointing Yemi was replaced by Anaclet, and Fast Eddie immediately linked up well with Green. With five minutes remaining, two-goal Green was substituted, straight after scoring the third goal, and Alex Fisher was given a brief run out. Howard received a knock, and was taken off in the final minute of normal time, Clarke coming on in his place.

Today's referee was Simon Beck, last seen in action in Oxford for last season's 1-0 win over Exeter City. Mr Beck was far too whistle happy, and his shrill piercings broke up many a promising attack by both sides. On the plus side, he did well to keep his cards in his pocket, only booking Gwillim for hauling back Yemi. Today's attendance was 4,851, boosted by lots of parents for the day's schools' five-a-side competition final, won on penalties by Glory Farm against West Kidlington. There were 119 from Histon.

The three points lift United two places to 14th, while Histon drop to 11th place. Conference leaders Aldershot won 3-1 at fourth-bottom Farsley Celtic, while Torquay United remain six points behind in second place after beating Kidderminster Harriers 1-0. Burton Albion stay fourth after losing 2-1 at Woking, while Cambridge United beat third-placed Stevenage Borough 2-1 to stay fifth. Exeter City remain sixth after drawing 1-1 at eighth-placed Ebbsfleet United.

At the other end of the table, Droylsden, who visit Oxford next weekend, have dropped to bottom after losing 2-0 at home to fifth-bottom Altrincham. Stafford Rangers climed to second bottom after beating 19th-placed Weymouth 2-1, while Northwich Victoria are 22nd, 11 points from safety, after losing 1-0 at home to Salisbury City. York City beat Grays Athletic 2-0, while Rushden & Diamonds drew 2-2 with Halifax, for whom Andy Campbell scored the second goal.