Salisbury City 2 Oxford United 1

Chris Wilder's first game in charge of Oxford ended in a disappointing defeat at Salisbury, who scored two early goals and then defended stubbornly to scrape the three points. ROS Sam Deering pulled a goal back for Oxford early in the second half, but then Salisbury hospitalised him in order to nullify his threat, and United thereafter lacked the invention to find the equaliser that they arguably deserved.

The first chance of the match fell to Jamie Guy, who flicked Lewis Haldane's cross over James Bittner, but also over the crossbar. Salisbury took the lead from the game's first corner, in the fourth minute, taken by Liam Feeney, who had just been sent home from his loan spell at Southend United. The ball was flicked on and Charlie Griffin, unmarked, headed easily home. Thirteen minutes later United were 2-0 down when Charles Ademeno converted Feeney's cut back, with the Oxford defence at sixes and sevens. Ten minutes later Luke Foster's weak header somehow looked goalbound, until Charlie Griffin hacked it clear, and James Constable had two good chances to hit the target, but failed to do so either time.

The second half started with United pressing to get back in the game, and they almost did so in the first minute, when Deering burst into the area and his shot was beaten away by Bittner. Ten minutes after the break Deering did score. Haldane set Constable free, and when Bittner challenged him the ball broke to the diminutive midfielder he finished with aplomb. Just four minutes later Luke Ruddick went in studs-up on Deering, leaving the lad writhing in agony with a suspected broken leg, according to the Salisbury club doctor. The penalty for this heinous tackle: a throw-in to Oxford and a yellow card for Billy Turley. Oxford still looked the more likely side to score, with Yemi Odubade breaking through and shooting narrowly wide, and Haldane having a header cleared off the line by Jon Bass. Salisbury rarely threatened, and when they did get clear their finishing was wayward, but Oxford just couldn't find the equaliser.

Wilder's first team selection was identical to Jim Smith's last one, with the exception being Adam Murray once again donning the captain's armband in place of Billy Turley, as Wilder believes a captain has to be influential in the middle of the park, although it remains to be seen if Murray will be permanent skipper. The first change took place at half-time, when James Clarke came on at right-back, allowing Joe Burnell to move up to his more usual midfield position in place of Phil Trainer, who has been out of sorts recently. Just before the hour Yemi came on for LSD, who was stretchered off. The final change was made as the game entered stoppage time, when Alex Fisher got a brief taste of the action, replacing Chris Willmott.

Today's semi-useful match official was Darren Sheldrake, whose last Oxford game was the equally dismal 1-0 defeat at Histon in September last season. Mr Sheldrake hardly endeared himself to the Oxford fans, as his inconsistency and occasional blindness led to decisions that were questionable, at best. His failure to punish Ruddick for breaking Deering's leg would have been laughable if the consequences for Sam, and Oxford, hadn't been so dire. In addition to Turley's booking, Mr Sheldrake also showed yellow cards to Willmott and Haldane. The attendance of 2,418 was Salisbury's best of the season, thanks to the 1,241 Oxford fans in attendance.

Oxford have dropped one place to 14th, while Salisbury have climbed one place to 17th. Northwich Victoria remain bottom after their 1-0 home defeat by Altrincham, who went above United into 12th place. Lewes are still second-bottom after they lost 1-0 at local rivals Eastbourne Borough, who climbed to 15th. Forest Green Rovers are still third from bottom after drawing 1-1 at Kidderminster Harriers, who stay fourth. Woking's 0-0 draw with fifth-placed Crawley sees them drop into the bottom four. Grays Athletic climbed into 20th place thanks to winning 1-0 at United's opponents on Sunday, Ebbsfleet United, with Grays' goal scored by Jamie Slabber. Barrow dropped to 19th after drawing 1-1 with seventh-placed Wrexham, for whom Jefferson Louis scored a last-minute equaliser. Mansfield Town's 3-1 win at ninth-placed Kettering Town lifted them to 18th.

Burton Albion are now ten points clear at the top after they beat 16th-placed York City 2-1. A Matt Green goal was enough to send Torquay United into second place after winning 1-0 at 11th-placed Weymouth, while Histon dropped to third after drawing 2-2 at far distant Cambridge United, who stay sixth despite Wayne Hatswell's goal. Tenth-placed Stevenage Borough beat eighth-placed Rushden & Diamonds 3-1.[@news]2430[/@news][@opponent]salisbury city[/@opponent]