Oxford United 0 Chesterfield 1

A wasteful United were made to rue their profligacy in the final third as Chesterfield left the Kassam Stadium with all three points.

The Us had built a little momentum with four victories in the previous five games but glances towards the play-off places were dealt a blow as Marc Ricahrds early strike proved decisive.

Richards raced through on goal after a neat through-ball had split the Oxford defence and the former Port Vale man diverted the ball across Luke McCormick and into the far corner of the goal.

United responded well to the setback and set about finding a leveller. Chris Wilder’s side were getting behind a hapless Chesterfield defence with ease, but were lacking quality when looking to apply the finishing touches.

Deane Smalley was unable to bundle the ball home during the most almighty of goalmouth scrambles and then scuffed an effort after Sean Rigg’s intelligent pull-back.

United continued to race forward with McCormick a spectator at the fence end, but Chesterfield’s lead remained intact. Scott Davies’ long pass deceived Trotman to find Smalley in the area, but he was denied by goalkeeper Tommy Lee when clean through.

There is little flexibility in the placement of the half-time break, but if it is possible for it to come at the wrong time, it certainly did here. The previously ragged Chesterfield defence emerged with the benefit of an organisational rethink and as so often happens, United looked far less lively when attacking the open end.

Jay O’Shea came inches from doubling the visitors’ lead early in the half as a curling effort flew wide of the post after a jinking run.

Wilder threw Tom Craddock, Josh Parker and eventually Harry Worley into the fray as the search for a leveller became ever more urgent, but Craddock’s curled effort was all Lee was required to do in a frustrating second half.

Results elsewhere meant that a victory would have further closed the gap on the play-off places, but the tale of missed opportunities is one that runs throughout Oxford’s season.

Referee Darren Bond seemed familiar, but research suggests that he was confused with another short referee. This is his first season in the league and 58 cards in 20 games suggests (8 in Northampton’s win over Exeter this season) that he is keen to make an impression. Managers often speak of game management in terms of a referee’s performance and it was in this area that Mr Bond was severely lacking. Chesterfield were intent on wasting time as they were under pressure in the first half and Mr Bond’s awareness of this was non-existent.

The most baffling moment was the gradual removal of Nathan Smith from the game. He went down injured, received treatment, carried on, waited for the ball to go out for a throw which he would take, prepared to take it, kicked the ball away, walked back onto the pitch and then fell over. There is no doubt that he was injured but there must be a point at which the referee realises that the opposition are making fun of him. This didn’t happen and Smalley’s decision to forcibly remove Smith from the field goes down as my favourite booking in Oxford United history.

If only we had been given a more positive highlight to remember…