Oxford United went down 1-0 to Conference leaders Aldershot Town this evening after a valiant performance that occasionally had the home side reeling. However, despite a much-improved performance from the Yellows, the only important statistic is John Grant's 65th-minute winning goal, which condemned United to their eighth-successive away defeat. And despite a new-look strike force, the club's goalscoring problems remain, as they succumbed to their third consecutive game without scoring.

United came storming out of the blocks, and were unlucky to be denied a penalty claim after just 50 seconds, after Justin Richards was up-ended. United continued to press, and Phil Trainer, Matt Green, and Richards all shot just wide or over. Grant then had the best chance of the half when he shot straight at Billy Turley from six yards. This led to a sustained spell of Aldershot pressure, but United defended well to keep out the hosts, although Barry Quinn was guilty of conceding possession too cheaply on a number of occasions. The remainder of the half was end-to-end stuff, but neither side had the guile to break the deadlock.

Aldershot came close through Dan Hylton at the start of the second half, but the game had become more scrappy, with fewer chances being created, especially by Oxford. Then came Grant's goal, heading in a corner as United again failed to defend a set piece, and once more the Us were chasing a game. United continued to create chances, as first Trainer burst clear but elected to pass to the marked Richards rather than shoot, and then Yemi Odubade sprinted forward but elected to shoot rather than pass to the unmarked Danny Rose. Eight minutes from time Oxford came closer to scoring than all game, when Matt Day unleashed one of his characteristic thunderbolts from 25 yards, but the ball smashed against the crossbar and bounced clear. That was it. Game over.[@news]2265[/@news][@opponent]aldershot[/@opponent]

Darren Patterson made just one change from the team that drew with Grays Athletic on Saturday, bringing Eddie Hutchinson into midfield in place of Yemi, while Trainer went wide on the left. The first substitution was made with 20 minutes remaining, when Yemi came on for the tiring Green. Six minutes later Danny Rose replaced Eddie Anaclet, who had failed to make much of an impression wide on the right. A further two minutes after that saw Day come on for James Clarke, who was struggling to keep up with play. Up front, Green and Richards look like they are beginning to forge an understanding, while in midfield Adam Murray and Hutchinson were typically tigerish, with Steady Eddie certainly not letting his transfer-listed status affect his game. Murray was fortunate not to get booked, though.

The referee tonight was A Halliday, taking charge of his first Oxford game. He was very lenient, allowing the game to flow and, despite getting a few decisions wrong (like not awarding Oxford a penalty in the first minute), had an above-average game. He showed Day a yellow card for kicking the ball away after conceding a foul. Tonight's attendance was just 2,754, of whom a measly 265 were rattling around the away terrace.

Oxford remain 15th in the table, two points ahead of Woking but having played a game more, while Aldershot remain top, six points above Torquay United, who have two games in hand on the leaders. There were two other Conference games this evening: Burton Albion stayed fourth after beating Rushden & Diamonds 2-1, with Andy Burgess scoring for Rushden. Exeter City climbed to sixth after winning 1-0 at fifth-placed Cambridge United. United's next game isn't until Saturday 9 February, when they welcome ninth-placed Histon to Grenoble Road.