Manny of the Match

United beat promotion rivals Kidderminster 2-1 at the KasStad in this vital match thanks to a late goal from substitute Manny Omoyinmi. Paul McCarthy, on loan from Wycombe, put the Us ahead on 38 minutes with his first goal for the club, but Kidderminster's leading scorer Bo Henriksen equalised on the stroke of half-time. Omoyinmi scored the winner with just two minutes remaining of normal time, breaking clear after being played in by Andy Scott. Compared to the normal fare served up at home this was quite an entertaining game, and at times, when Oxford passed the ball around, they looked quite good.

As anticipated Ian Atkins kept the same starting line-up that won at Lincoln last Saturday, but this time it was the substitutions that turned the game. At half-time Dean Whitehead replaced Dave Savage on the right side of midfield and, after a bit of time to get into the game, his harrying and chasing caused problems for the Kidderminster left. On the hour mark Omoyinmi came on for Dominic Foley, and immediately gave the Kidderminster defence problems with his pace. With seven minutes remaining Chris Hackett took over from Scott McNiven and complemented Whitehead with his speed and movement.

The referee was Iain Williamson, whose first game of the season was United's win at Rushden just after Christmas. He showed yellow cards to McCarthy and Dave Waterman, and generally struggled to keep up with the game and keep his eye on everything. The attendance, boosted by loads of kids for a quid, was 6,820, the largest in the division today. A match report can be found here.

This important victory lifts United up to fifth, leaving Kidderminster in 12th, five points behind the play-off zone. Leaders Hartlepool thrashed Orient 4-1 to leave the Os just six points above the relagation places, and Rushden kept the pressure on with a 1-0 win over Lincoln who are now 10th, just three points behind Oxford. Wrexham stayed in third, four points above United with a game in hand, after a last gasp 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers which leaves the Gas third from bottom. Bournemouth stayed fourth after beating Southend 1-0, but the Shrimpers are ten points above the drop zone and should be safe.

Torquay have dropped to sixth after being held at home 2-2 by Macclesfield, who are now four points from the drop, and York are now seventh after only drawing 2-2 with Rochdale, seven points above relegation. Bury have dropped to eighth after only drawing 1-1 at home to Carlisle, who are fourth from bottom, while ninth placed Scunthorpe could only draw 1-1 at Swansea, sixth from bottom and only two points above the danger zone. Cambridge kept their hopes of a play-off place alive with a 2-1 win over United's next opponents, bottom of the league Exeter City. Paul Wanless scored Cambridge's first.

Boston United remain in danger of the drop, fifth from bottom, after going down 1-0 at home to Hull, while Darlington inflicted severe damage on second bottom Shrewsbury with a 5-1 win.

Honourable draw

In the main match of the day Raging Fever and Kiddy supporters fought out a 3-3 draw, generally considered a fair result by all and sundry. Fever took the lead midway through the first half, after withstanding heavy Kiddy pressure, when Neil Wakefield shot home from close range. Despite further Kiddy pressure the home side managed to keep their noses in front until half-time, thanks mainly to a superb performance from new goalie Tim.

The second half started as a much more even affair, but an injury to Fever's centre back Paul Soper led to two Kiddy goals in two minutes as the home defence struggled to reorganise. Wakefield scored his second, a header after some good wing work by Gary Silver, to equalise and when Silver finished well with just five minutes left it looked like Fever would get the win.

Unfortunately, in the final minute, some slack defending allowed the visitors a late equaliser, but it was what they deserved and both sides were happy with the result. Raging Fever now have one more game remaining this season, a home clash with Yorkie Bars on the last day of the league season.

RF: Tim, Brodders (Geoff), Nick, Paul SOJ (Brodders), Gary B (YF Dan), YF Dan (Neil), Andy, Gez, Neil (Jon WGL), John, Gary;