A series of superb saves by Cambridge United keeper Danny Potter earned his side a 2-1 win at Oxford United this evening. Cambridge were the better side for long periods, but rarely threatened, while United had the better chances, and will be disappointed not to have taken a point from the match. Initial exchanges were even, but the first chance fell to Cambridge after eight minutes, when former United winger Courtney Pitt shot wide when he should have scored after a mistake by Barry Quinn. Jamie Hand, making his home debut (again) then shot wide from distance, before Cambridge took the lead after quarter of an hour. Another ex-U, Rob Wolleaston, evaded Matt Day, and his cross was headed home by Lee Boylan, with Billy Turley mistiming his dive. The lead lasted just two minutes before Matt Green silenced the still-celebrating visiting supporters. He collected the ball on the right, skipped past a couple of half-hearted challenges, including Wayne Hatswell's crude attempt to bring him down, and then curled the ball past Potter into the far corner. The remainder of the first half was fairly even, with United probably having the better of the possession, and were certainly playing most of the game in the Cambridge half, with little to show for it in front of goal.[@news]2283[/@news][@opponent]cambridge united[/@opponent]

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, but 12 minutes after the break an excellent passing move saw the visitors take the lead again. Lee McEvilly ran at Michael Howard before passing to Boylan, whose shot beat Turley for his and Cambridge's second goal. United hit back almost immediately, when Eddie Anaclet's cross was met on the volley by Craig McAllister, but Potter flung himself full stretch to his left to palm the ball away to safety. United's heads started to drop, and they continued to misplace their passes continually. Hand and Adam Murray were particularly guilty of giving the ball away needlessly, but the whole team seemed to suffer from the same problem. United had a purple patch towards the end of the half, when they forced a succession of corners, with Potter making further good saves from Luke Foster and Justin Richards, and Pitt chesting one goal-bound effort off the line. As the game neared the end, Cambridge were happy to take the ball into the corners and let Oxford chase them. The visitors retained the ball better than Oxford, and in Boylan and McEvilly have a very effective strike force, but the gap between the sides wasn't that great, and if the Us had come up against a less competent goalkeeper the outcome may well have been more favourable.

Darren Patterson made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, with Day replacing Jamie Clarke at right back, and Green starting in place of Richards. Just after the hour mark Patto made a double substitution, bringing on Yemi Odubade for Anaclet, and Richards replaced Michael Blackwood as United went 4-2-4.

Tonight's referee was Nick Kinseley, who was the chap who officiated Oxford's 2-1 win over Salisbury City earlier in the season. He started off okay, but as the game progressed his decision making became increasingly bizarre. He showed Day a yellow card. The attendance was 4,422, with 487 in the western end of the North Stand.

This defeat sees Oxford drop down to 15th place in the Conference, while Cambridge climb above Torquay United to go second, still ten points behind leaders Aldershot. Stevenage Borough are fourth after they won 4-1 at ninth-placed Histon, while Exeter City stay fifth after drawing 2-2 at Crawley Town. In sixth place are Burton Albion, who visit Oxford on Saturday. They drew 0-0 at York City tonight. Forest Green have gone up to seventh after their incredible 6-0 win at fourth-bottom, and looking increasingly likely to go down, Weymouth. Rovers climb above Salisbury, who lost 2-1 at Ebbsfleet United.

At the foot of the table, bottom club Droylsden threw away a half-time lead to lose 3-1 at home to third-bottom Northwich Victoria, for whom Lee Steele scored twice. Second-bottom Stafford Rangers were hammered 6-0 at Kidderminster Harriers. Farsley Celtic stay fifth from bottom, one point above Weymouth, after losing 1-0 and having Georges Santos sent off at home to Rushden & Diamonds, who have gone above Oxford as a result. Altrincham, in 19th place, drew 3-3 with Halifax, for whom Andy Campbell scored a penalty.