Oxford United 0 Woking 0

A toothless humping Oxford side failed to make an impression on a resolute Woking, gifting the visitors their first point of the season. This was a scrappy game, which failed to settle down into any real pattern, although if it hadn't been for Jake Cole, the QPR on-loan goalie keeping United's first clean sheet of the season, this could have been so much worse.

This was the third successive season that United and Woking have drawn 0-0 at Minchery Farm, and like their two previous visits they Surrey side's game plan was to slow the game down and prevent United from building up any momentum. However, unlike their other visits, on this occasion The Cards didn't pull everyone behind the ball, but were happy to attack the Yellows from the off, earning an early free kick. On four minutes United had their own free kick in a dangerous position, and Chris Carruthers' shot hit the top of the bar. The rest of the first half saw the ball pinging about the field with neither goalie having much to do, until four minutes before the break Eddie Hutchinson broke through and shot narrowly over from 20 yards. Just before half time Cole began his one-man show, saving well from Delano Sam-Yorke, and then blocking the same player's follow-up.

Sam-Yorke broke through again eight minutes into the second half, and once more Cole denied the powerful striker, and it was the same combination two minutes later when Sam-Yorke pounced on a sliced clearance from Adam Murray, easily beat Barry Quinn, but couldn't prod the ball beyond the advancing Cole. Although the visitors were looking the likelier team to score, United weren't out of it, and midway through the half Yemi Odubade set up Lewis Haldane, whose shot hit the outside of the post. That was it for goalscoring chances, but the Oxford fans will be unhappy that they didn't look like putting Woking to the sword, while at the other end their defending was unconvincing.

Darren Patterson made two changes to the side that lost at Wrexham on Thursday. The enforced change saw Chris Willmott coming into the defence in place of the suspended Luke Foster, for his first start since the 5-0 drubbing at Rushden in November last year. The other change saw Jamie Guy making his first appearance for United after injuring his hamstring in pre-season, with Yemi moving to the right wing and Levi Reid onto the bench. The first change was made at half time, when Clarke replaced the cumbersome Matt Day, the defence immediately appearing more solid. On the hour Guy, who was clearly lacking match fitness, was replaced by Reid, who went to the right wing with Yemi, who proved on this performance that he is not a winger, went up front. With eight minutes to go, ROS Sam Deering replaced Haldane.

Today's referee was Simon Beck, who took charge of United's 3-0 win over Histon last season. While he obviously had a good game on that occasion, today he had a deeply flawed performance, failing to clamp down on time wasting and getting many decisions incorrect, some hilariously so. He booked Adam Murray for an innocuous challenge, and missed many other worse challenges by both teams. The attendance today was just 4,314, of whom 184 were fully fledged Card carriers.

The point leaves Oxford still in 18th place, while Woking stay bottom. Salisbury City have taken over top spot after winning 1-0 at Torquay United, who are now fifth from bottom. Cambridge United are now second after losing 2-0 at home to Kettering Town, in 14th place. Barrow's 1-1 draw at 7th-placed York City leaves them third, while Forest Green Rovers are fourth after they beat sixth-placed Weymouth 4-1. Mansfield Town are fifth following their 3-2 win over fourth-bottom Northwich Victoria, for whom Lee Steele scored.[@news]2355[/@news][@opponent]woking[/@opponent]

Stevenage Borough's poor start to the season continues, the second-bottom team being held to a 1-1 draw at home by 13th-placed Crawley Town. Lewes are third from bottom after drawing 0-0 at home with ninth-placed Ebbsfleet United. Grays Athletic are the other side below Oxford after they went down 1-0 at home to a last-minute goal from Eastbourne Borough. Jefferson Louis earned eighth-placed Wrexham a point with an equaliser at 17th-placed Altrincham, while Rushden & Diamonds' recent acquisition of Leon Knight failed to pay dividends as they went down 2-1 at home to Histon. Michael Corcoran scored Rushden's goal. Burton Albion and Kidderminster Harriers drew 2-2.