United have a 100 percent record in 2005, thanks to one of their most resilient performances since moving to the KasStad, against local neighbours Wycombe Wanderers, wearing their new year comedy kit. The opening goal came midway through the first half when Tommy Mooney set up Jamie Brooks to score the first goal since he came back from two and a half years out through injury. Oxford were rocked just eleven minutes later when Chris Hackett was sent off for fighting with Wycombe’s Tony Craig. Although Hackett could have few complaints the crowd was angered because Craig got off scot-free, without even a talking-to, and then celebrated Hackett’s dismissal. The sending-off spurred on United, who dug deep to keep out Wanderers, who were hampered by their own ineptness. With four minutes left Steve Basham doubled United’s lead when he got his head to Lee Molyneaux’s powerfully driven free-kick to deflect the ball past Frank Talia. In injury time Barry Quinn was harshly adjudged to have brought down Danny Senda, who converted the resultant penalty, and Oxford survived a later scare when Wanderers got the ball into the net, but the whistle had already blown for a push.

Ramon Diaz and Horacio Rodrigues only made one change from Tuesday’s defeat by Kidderminster, but it proved a vital one. Tommy Mooney came back into the side after missing the Kiddy game through suspension, and this allowed Lee Bradbury to drop back into midfield in place of Rob Wolleaston. At half-time Craig Davies was taken off for Molyneaux as Oxford shored up the defence, and Brooks went off to a standing ovation just before the hour, with Wolleaston taking his place. With 20 minutes to go Basham came on for Mooney. Triallist Doudou was also on the bench.

The referee was Mark Cowburn, taking charge of an Oxford game for the first time since January 2002, when we lost 1-0 at Shrewsbury and, frankly, he had a ‘mare. In addition to sending off Hackett, he also showed yellow cards to Barry Quinn and David Woozley, neither of which were particularly warranted. The attendance was the season’s best (so far), of 7,195, and a match report might well appear tomorrow, as will a preview of Monday’s match at Bury.

United remain 18th in the table, because of their poor goal difference, while Wycombe have dropped to 12th. Cambridge stay bottom after losing at home, 1-0 to Boston, and Kidderminster remain one place above them after going down 2-1 at Orient, for whom Andy Scott scored both goals, which leaves the Londoners occupying the final play-off place, seven points above Oxford. Rushden have dropped to third from bottom after their 3-0 defeat at Southend, who are now fourth. Shrewsbury are one place above the Diamonds after they beat Bristol Rovers 2-0, while Notts County are 20th after winning 2-0 at Cheltenham. Chester are the other team below Oxford, despite their 2-1 win at sixth-placed Macclesfield.

At the other end, Scunthorpe are still top, but only on goal difference now after they lost 1-0 at home to Darlington, to leave the Quakers 8th. Yeovil closed the gap after their 2-0 win at third-placed Swansea. Northampton have climbed to 5th after beating Mansfield 2-1. Lincoln beat Bury 1-0, while Rochdale’s match with Grimsby was abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch.