United's latest disastrous result saw them go down 3-0 at the league's bottom side. This was a humiliating result for the side and the management, many of whom used to be involved at Rushden. All the damage was done in the first dire quarter of the match, with the Diamonds already having squandered some decent chances before Marcus Kelly gave them the lead after a quarter of an hour. It was 2-0 five minutes later, when Phil Guliver was left unmarked at a free kick to head home, and just three minutes later Kelly scored his second when he was also left unmarked to convert a Tyrone Berry cross.

At least United managed to prevent the scoreline getting any worse, although their need to get a goal back went unfulfilled. Neville Roach had a decent run and shot that Scott Tynan saved, and with twenty minutes remaining Ben Weedon came close to getting on the end of an Andy Burgess cross, followed shortly afterwards by Steve Basham shooting narrowly over. Roach had another opportunity to score from close range, but Tynan saved again. A flashpoint came four minutes from time when Rushden substitute Darren Caskey deliberately flattened Burgess. John Dempster charged over and knocked Caskey to the ground, earning himself a debut red card, while Caskey was just shown a yellow.

Brian Talbot made some controversial changes, which would appear to have backfired on him somewhat. With Matt Robinson suspended for five yellow cards, Burgess started the game at left back, with Jamie Brooks making his first appearance of the season on the left of midfield. Leo Roget was relegated to the bench, allowing Dempster to play against his old club to make his United debut. Eric Sabin was injured, and Basham was dropped, allowing Neville Roach to start and Yemi Odubade to come in for his debut following his arrival from Eastbourne Borough last week. After 33 minutes, with the Us 3-0 down, Talbot made a double substitution. He took off Brooks, bringing on left back Weedon for his first Oxford first-team game, allowing Burgess to move into midfield. He also replaced Odubade, who was unsurprisingly slightly off the pace, with leading scorer Basham. The formation was changed to 3-5-2, with Weedon and Lee Mansell playing as the wingbacks.

Today's referee was Steve Tanner, who took charge of United's 3-3 draw at Torquay in December. In addition to the red card shown to Dempster, which was fair enough, Tanner also booked Mansell and Chris Willmott, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season. The attendance was 3,283, the lowest yet to watch a league game between the two sides. We may publish a match report tomorrow, but then again we may not. If anyone wishes to send one in, to save us the bother, there might be a pint in it for you (but don't hold your breath).

Following this humiliation, United somehow remain in 17th place, just eight points above the relegation zone. Rushden have climbed off the bottom of the table, and are now 23rd, level on points with bottom-placed Stockport, who drew 1-1 at league leaders Wycombe. Torquay are now third from bottom after their 1-0 win at 16th-placed Shrewsbury. Bury's 2-0 defeat at home to 4th-placed Northampton leaves them fourth from bottom, while Barnet in 20th and Macclesfield in 19th didn't play today. Mansfield, one place below United, were thumped 4-0 at 6th-placed Darlington.

Second-placed Carlisle were without a match today, but Grimsby in third were unable to take advantage, losing 2-1 at home to 7th-placed Peterborough, who are now nine points ahead of Oxford. Orient, in 5th place, and Cheltenham, who are 8th, were otherwise engaged. Notts County are 9th after their 2-0 win at 15th-placed Chester, while Bristol Rovers are 10th after going down 1-0 at 12th-placed Lincoln. Rochdale and Boston drew 1-1.