Oxford United 1 Hayes & Yeading United 2

Well, that was a shame wasn't it? Steve Basham, once a hero round these parts, scored the goals that could well consign United to another season of non-league purgatory. Oh sweet jesus on a bike that can't really happen can it? Two goals from the Bash, one in reply from Simon Clist, and the way ahead seems to be so bleak. Is there anyone with any friendship left to speak?

With no Anthony Tonkin, United started with Jake Wright at left back and Mark Creighton coming in to partner Rhys Day in the centre. The only other change to the side that drew 1-1 at Cambridge United a week ago was Sam Deering in for Adam Chapman. It took Wilder half an hour to suss that things weren't working, by which time United were a goal down, and Day was sacrificed for Ashley Cain, allowing Wright to move into the centre, Clist to drop to left back, and Cain to go on the right wing, with Deering switching to the left. At half-time, with United two down, the clearly struggling Chris Hargreaves was taken off and replaced by new signing Lewis Chalmers, making his Oxford debut. With quarter of an hour to go, Jack Midson was thrown into the mix, with Dannie Bulman making way.

After a fairly even opening spell, Basham scored his first goal on 25 minutes after receiving a cross from Craig Watkins, looking suspiciously offside. Basham controlled the ball, turned, and shot in off the post. Day forced the first save from Clark Masters shortly afterwards, before being taken off. Two minutes before the break United's fallibility from set pieces was again exposed as Bash had an unopposed header from a corner to double the score.

United had to start the second half on the front foot, and indeed they did. Within two minutes Hayes were reduced to ten men when Esmond James was sent off; having been stupidly booked for kicking the ball away at the end of the first half, he then tripped Deering as the winger charged through, and off he went. The referee then missed a blatant handball in the penalty area before Oxford pulled a goal back. Damian Batt overhit a cross, but it fell invitingly for Clist to swivel and volley home for his first goal at the Kas. However, instead of battering the ten men in search of an equaliser and then a winner, United continued to be hesitant going forwards. Masters saved a shot from Matt Green, John Grant shot wide, Deering scuffed an effort in to Masters' arms, and Creighton headed wide from a corner. The best chance fell to Grant who found himself with just Masters to beat and, with the 'keeper committed, the striker tried to dribble past him instead of chipping him and the chance was gone. An injury-time shot from Green went high and wide and that was that.

The first half performance from the Us was in no way that of a promotion-chasing side, never mind one at the top of the league, with far too many poor displays on show. The midfield was missing, the defence was hesitant, and the attack was absent. Hardly a pass found a Yellow shirt, and hardly a header was won. There was far too much long-ball hoofing and no one wanted to take responsibility to put their foot on the ball and play a decent pass. Possible exceptions to scathing criticism were Clist and Deering, but a side needs more than two players to function. The second half was better, but an inability to take advantage of a part-time team reduced to ten men, however many of them were defending, doesn't bode well for Oxford's championship credentials. Could this be 2006-07 all over again? Let's bloody hope not, but without Tonkin, Adam Murray, Alfie Potter, and James Constable United looked the shadow of a decent side and there were too many players bottling the occasion and shirking responsibility. Are there too many loanees and short-term contracted players in the side? Or has there been too much tinkering with personnel?

Tonight's referee was Carl Berry, taking his first Oxford game. He had a good first half (unlike United), but seemed to fall apart after his dismissal of James, when he started to make wrong calls, or no call at all, and began to lose the plot. His misdemeanours went both ways, and he booked Wright when the defender was lucky not to see a straight red for a two-footed tackle, but on the other hand he missed the penalty shout and allowed the Hayes players to scythe down Deering almost at will. The attendance was a disappointed 5,045 with just 54 from Hayes, or possibly Yeading.

To put the result into perspective, Stevenage Borough beat third-bottom Barrow 4-0 thanks to a Yemi Odubade hat-trick, and thereby returned to the top of the table and now have a +10 goal difference over Oxford. Luton Town went back to third after beating second-bottom Forest Green Rovers 2-1, although they needed a last-minute goal to secure the points, of which they are now just six behind the Us. United's opponents on Saturday, Kettering Town, dropped to fifth after losing 1-0 at home to Cambridge, but York City were unable to capitalise, remaining in sixth place after losing 2-1 at home to Salisbury City.

Other Conference results were Crawley Town's 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon, imploding Histon's 1-0 win against Tamworth, and a 1-1 draw between Wrexham and Altrincham. Positives from tonight? At least we should make the play-offs… [@news]2677[/@news] [@opponent]hayes & yeading united[/@opponent]