Oxford United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0

A goalless home draw with Kidderminster Harriers was enough to move United back to the top of the Conference. However, the overall feeling at the final whistle was one of disappointment at a below-par performance compounded by poor finishing.

Chris Wilder sprang a surprise with his line-up, recalling Jamie Cook and playing Sam Deering just behind James Constable. He continued with the central defensive partnership of Rhys Day and Jake Wright, with Damian Batt and Anthony Tonkin in the full-back positions. Alfie Potter was the other wide player, with Dannie Bulman and Simon Clist in central midfield.

The return of Cook almost paid dividends within the first 10 seconds, as he and Deering broke through, but Cook dragged his right-footed shot wide when a better option would have been to square the ball to Deering. This opening pretty much summed up the whole game for United, who looked dangerous going forward but were always let down by the final decision making. Kidderminster were no slouches, and after quarter of an hour had a three-on-one break that was only halted by a rubbish pass from Mark Goodfellow. Rob Matthews then shot over when well placed and an open game was developing. United had two good shouts for penalties turned down, on both occasions Constable being bundled over.

Constable was denied by a Duane Courtney block just after the start of the second half, after being set up by the lively Deering. A change of personnel just before the hour saw Matt Green and Chris Hargreaves, making his first home appearance since returning from Torquay United, replace Cook and Potter, and Green almost broke through five minutes later, but his shot was a routine save for Dean Coleman. Coleman was then called into action to tip over a Clist free-kick before the midfielder made way for Jack Midson. The striker almost scored with his first touch as he was set free, but his strong drive was straight at Coleman. Right at the death Ryan Clarke saved well low down as substitute Damian Spencer fired in a shot from six yards, and Spencer was lucky to stay on the field after he lashed out at an Oxford player, and attempted a couple of head-butts for good measure, but the referee decided that WWE merely warranted a yellow card.

This was a hard-fought point for Oxford, but this was a game that they should have won. Perhaps if United had started with the line-up that ended the game they would have been celebrating a victory (but then again, perhaps not). Whatever, it now makes the game at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday that much more important.

The arbiter in question was David Coote, last in charge when United beat Eastbourne Borough 4-0 on 19 September. Mr Coote had an excellent game, providing one wasn't too concerned about the consistent application of the Laws of Association Football. He justifiably showed Constable a yellow card for a foul on Lee Baker, leaving Beano facing a two-match ban, but he also booked Tonkin for impeding a Kidderminster attacker but took no action whatsoever for an even more blatant obstruction by Baker on Potter. In addition, he booked Bulman in the same incident in which he effectively condoned Spencer's ABH, despite the leery midfielder being more sinned against than sinning. The attendance was 5,802 with 167 carpet fitters.

The point was enough to take United back to the top because Stevenage Borough were beaten 1-0 at Tamworth; this leaves Oxford and Stevenage level on points but with Oxford having a two-goal advantage, as well as two games in hand. Stevenage had two players dismissed. Kidderminster remain ninth and Tamworth 12th. Third-placed York City closed the gap on the top two to just one point after they won 1-0 at eighth-placed Kettering Town. Mansfield Town stay in fourth place despite surprisingly going down 2-0 at home to third-bottom Gateshead, while AFC Wimbledon are fifth after beating fourth-bottom Forest Green Rovers 2-0.

Rushden & Diamonds are in sixth place after winning 3-0 at second-bottom Grays Athletic; Michael Corcoran and Jefferson Louis were among the Rushden scorers. Oxford's next opponents, Luton Town, are seventh after winning 1-0 at fifth-bottom Barrow. Bottom side Chester City's misery continued with a 2-1 home defeat by Ebbsfleet United. The day's top score went to Altrincham, who put five past Salisbury City without reply, while Cambridge United's woes were compounded by a 1-0 defeat at Crawley Town. Eastbourne Borough beat Wrexham 2-1 and Histon were held to a 3-3 draw by Hayes & Yeading, for whom Scott Fitzgerald scored. [@news]2651[/@news][@opponent]kidderminster harriers[/@opponent]