Oxford United 2 Hayes & Yeading United 0

Oxford United eventually eased into the draw for the first round proper of the FA Cup thanks to two second-half goals from Jamie Guy and James Constable. The victory, and United's second clean sheet of the season, was overshadowed, though, by a nasty, pointless, late tackle on James Clarke deep into second-half stoppage time. Clarke was stretchered from the field of play and an ambulance took him to hospital for an X-ray.

United started the game slowly and hesitantly, and the visitors looked sharper. Oxford failed to keep possession and too often resorted to the long ball to clear their lines, while Hayes used their pace to counter attack to good effect. The game was just ten minutes old when Hayes wasted a glorious chance to punish United, Ram Marwa heading over from the edge of the goal area while unmarked. Two minutes later the Conference South side thought they'd taken the lead when Will Hendry poked a cross home, but they were denied by the linesman's flag. That seemed to deflate the visitors, and United started to control possession, while doing little with it. There was one moment of comedy that almost turned to tragedy, as Billy Turley cleared the ball against the head of Hendry, who turned and dithered, when he should have chipped the goalie. After that let-off, Constable and ROS Sam Deering got past 'keeper Delroy Preddie, but neither was able to apply the finishing touch, and as half-time approached Preddie saved well from both Guy and Constable.

The Us started the second half with renewed vigour, and started to apply some real pressure on the Hayes goal. Constable had a header cleared off the line from a Deering corner and ten minutes after the break Oxford finally took the lead. Clarke crossed for Constable, who knocked the ball down to Guy. His shot was deflected high over Preddie's head and into the net. Lewis Haldane had two golden opportunities to finish off the game, both times racing clear from the Hayes defenders, and both times shooting well wide, with Constable clear alongside him the second time. Guy replicated Haldane's profligacy with his own glaring miss. Thankfully, United weren't punished for their wastefulness in front of goal, although they could have been when Hayes were unjustly denied a good penalty shout after Kieran Knight got goalside of Clarke, who hauled him down, but the referee waved play-on. With 18 minutes remaining the game was made safe, as Yemi Odubade used his pace to race clear. He squared the ball for Constable, who swept it home from eight yards. Yemi had another couple of chances shortly afterwards, one of which Preddie did well to save, and the other was blasted wide. Deering also had a shot well saved by the Hayes goalie, who was having a memorable game. Sadly, Will Hendry soiled the visitors' performance with that dreadful tackle on Clarke, who may well have had his season prematurely ended.

Darren Patterson made just one change to the side that beat Burton Albion last Saturday, with Chris Willmott coming into defence for the injured Barry Quinn. Patto's first substitution had an instant impact, as Yemi came on for Guy and with his first touch set up Constable for the winner. With five minutes remaining Matt Taylor came on for Constable, and as the fourth official was holding up his board for added time James Dobson came on for his first-team debut, replacing Haldane.

Today's referee was Mike Bull, who is the same chap who sent off Luke Foster at Ebbsfleet United earlier this season. This time he didn't card any Oxford players, but was contrite after the game for only showing Hendry a yellow for the late, late tackle on Clarke. The attendance was 2,521, of whom 259 came from the home of the Ruts.

In other FA Cup ties Oxford City lost 1-0 at home to Eastbourne Borough, although Brackley Town progressed to the first round for the first time in their history, winning 1-0 at Hampton & Richmond. Aylesbury United lost 1-0 at home to Sutton United. Other Conference clubs who progressed today were Cambridge United, who won 3-2 at Boston United, Grays Athletic beat AFC Totton 2-0, Kettering Town, who beat fellow Conference side Burton Albion 3-0, Kidderminster Harriers, who won 5-1 at King's Lynn, Barrow, who won 4-0 at Tamworth, and Torquay United, who beat Chipstead 4-1. Some Conference sides need to replay their games: Forest Green Rovers were held to a goalless draw at Ashford Town (Middlesex), Histon drew 2-2 at Durham City, Lewes were held 1-1 at Leiston, Stevenage Borough drew 2-2 at home to Horsham, Woking and Ebbsfleet United drew 2-2, Wrexham were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Eastwood Town, while York City and Mansfield Town shared no goals whatsoever between them. In addition, Northwich Victoria's game at home to AFC Telford was abandoned, with the Vics 1-0 up, due to an electrical fire causing the floodlights to fail. A number of our peers were eliminated at this stage: Crawley Town were humiliated at home by Havant & Waterlooville, going down 3-0, Rushden & Diamonds lost 2-0 at Evesham, Salisbury City lost 1-0 at Team Bath, and Weymouth were beaten 2-1 at home by Hornchurch. [@news]2393[/@news][@opponent]hayes & yeading united[/@opponent]