Ramon Diaz started his Oxford United reign with a win, that wasn’t as comfortable as it should have been, over second-bottom Cambridge United. The Us stormed into a two-goal first half lead, and were looking good to increase that scoreline, but they became nervous and edgy in the second half, and tried to hang on to their lead rather than look to extend it. United took the lead in the 19th minute from the best move of the game, as Lee Bradbury fed Chris Hackett who raced to the bye-line, and his pinpoint cross was headed past Lewis Price. Craig Davies doubled the score 11 minutes later as he was put clear by another perfect Hackett pass and coolly slotted past Price as the goalie came out to narrow the angle. There were 11 minutes remaining when Cambridge pulled a goal back. Mark Rawle gave away the ball in midfield and from the resultant attack Jermaine Easter tapped home from four yards after being set up by Colin Heath. However, United rode the threat and held out to give Diaz the perfect start.

Interestingly, it is not Diaz who selects the team, this duty falling to coach Horacio Rodriguez, and he certainly proved that he is not afraid to make changes. Chris Tardif was still struggling with a back injury, and so in came youth-team rookie Bradie Clarke for his first Oxford appearance, who justified his selection with an assured display, including two excellent saves. Dave Woozley replaced the suspended Jon Ashton in the centre of defence. Hackett started wide ont the right in place of Mark E’Beyer, who was ill, and Jamie Brooks made his first Oxford start for two and a half years after surviving his bout of life-threatening Guillame-Barre Syndrome, coming in for the injured Steve Basham. Lee Bradbury regained the captain’s armband as Paul Wanless made way, with Bradders taking over his central midfield position, and Davies came in to make his first start for the club. Just after the hour Mark Rawle came on for Brooks, who was tiring after having played excellently, bringing one fine save out of Price in the first half, and hitting the post in the second. With quarter of an hour to go, Davies went off to be replaced by Rob Wolleaston, as United switched to just one up front to try and hold on to the lead. In the final minute Mooney went off and Danny Morgan came on for only his second Oxford appearance.

The referee was Trevor Kettle, last seen round these parts in Oxford’s Boxing Day win over Leyton Orient last season. He marked his return by showing yellow cards to Dave Mackay, for a foul, and Bradbury, for kicking the ball away. Three Cambridge players were also booked. The attendance was a modest 4,844. A match report is likely tomorrow.

The win lifts United two places, to 18th, just seven points below the play-off positions, and nine points above Cambridge, who still occupy 23rd position. Kidderminster remain bottom, now only one point below Cambridge, despite beating Rochdale 2-1. Shrewsbury’s 1-1 draw at Chester leaves them third from bottom, and leaves Chester 19th, while Rushden drew 0-0 at Mansfield to stay fourth from bottom, with the Stags now just above Oxford on goal difference. Notts County lost 1-0 at home to Wycombe to drop to one place below Oxford.

In the clash of the top two Scunthorpe triumphed 1-0 to go seven points clear and drop Swansea back to third, with Yeovil going second after beating Grimsby, two places above Oxford and their next opponents, 2-1. Macclesfield have risen to fourth after drawing 0-0 at Bristol Rovers, while somehow Darlington have snuck up to fifth thanks to their 3-0 demolition of 7th-placed Orient. Southend have gone 6th after winning 1-0 at Bury. In other games Lincoln and Cheltenham drew 0-0 and Northampton beat Boston 2-1.

In the second division, Dean Whitehead scored his first goal for Sunderland as they won 2-0 at Cardiff. In the SPL Richie Foran scored Motherwell’s second in their 2-0 win over Livingston. More later…