Reserves go Posh

With every player with the remotest chance of playing over the weekend rested, apart from David Oldfield and Ian McCaldon, who needed the fitness, and Sam Ricketts, allegedly on trial for McCarthy's centre back spot, this really was the bare bones. Injuries took a further toll leaving three second year scholars and three first years in the starting line-up.

Ricketts was joined in a back three by Dexter Blackstock, who played at the back a number of times earlier in the season for the youths, and fellow first year scholar Angus McKay, who looked the best of the three. Matthew Brandish and Michael Alexis teamed up in the middle, with Josias Carbon and another first year, Tom Winters, out wide. Dwight Ciampoli joined Oldfield and Charltontriallist Mark De Bolla, looking for a Jermaine Defoe type loandeal next season, back for another stint up front.

Oxford did not look as comfortable as they had done a week earlier, but after just 7 minutes Carbon fired home a McKay header from a corner. Then on 20 minutes former Us target Nathan Abbey, in the visitors goal, showed he had found none of his ability as Alexis shot past him from distance after a nice move on the left.Five minutes later it looked all over as Oldfield latched onto a long ball and flicked it sideways to De Bolla, who fired in the third for Oxford.

The second half saw the action remain at the same end of the pitch as Peterborough pushed forwards. McCaldon dotted the half with a series of confident stops and catches including one double save after a silly foul from Ricketts. It was virtually the young defender's last contribution as he went off on the hour with asuspected broken collarbone after falling awkwardly, resulting in Oldfield becoming the third Us forward to play in defence in two games.

The Posh showed much more in this second period, in which they grabbed two goals back, the second from a wonderful run and curling strike from Francis Green. Even so, with McCaldon performing well and some decent chances of their own United held on for a 3-2 win.

At the close the bizarre line-up scenario which has seen centre back Rob Lovegrove starting in goal went full circle as 'keeper Simon Cox came on in defence for the last couple of minutes as Ciampoli went off with cramp.