Slack at Macc

United went down 2-1 at Macclesfield to end their excellent unbeaten away record, although the game was not without controversy. Macc went ahead in the 66th minute when a Kyle Lightbourne shot took a deflection off a clearly offside Matthew Tipton, neither official realising what was going on. As United pushed forward looking for an equaliser Macclesfield went further ahead through Danny Whittaker with just about 2 minutes left. United threw everything forward and eventually were rewarded when Jefferson Louis, who had previously hit the post, scored in the third minute of injury time. Adi Viveash had previously had a goal dubiously ruled out for offside. It was probably because Oxford were playing in white shirts, rather than their lucky blue strip.

As predicted the only change from Saturday's starting line-up was David Oldfield coming in for ROS Chris Hackett. Oldfield didn't even manage a full half, coming off injured just before half time to be replaced by Roy Hunter. Gavin Gordon, playing his last game before his loan period expires, came on for Andy Scott at halftime, and with United a goal down Hackett came on for Matt Bound as the Us went to 4-4-2.

Referee G Cain, as well as missing the blatant offside for Macclesfield's first goal, was fairly abysmal, with even the home fans booing him off the pitch despite his gift of three points to them. He also saw fit to book Matt Robinson and Andy Crosby. The attendance was a laughable, humiliating 1,583 (does Macclesfield deserve league football?) of whom around 300 came from Oxford, possibly. Jim Henderson's match report is online here.

United have fallen to tenth following this defeat and are now starting to lose touch with the leading pack, as leaders Hartlepool won again, beating Bristol Rovers 2-0. Kidderminster consolidated their second place with a 4-0 thumping of Swansea at the Vetch, while Rushden maintained their challenge by beating Boston 1-0. Bournemouth drop back to fourth after they were hammered 4-0 by Torquay, who rise to fifth.

Bottom club, and United's next opponents, Carlisle lost 2-1 at Cambridge, whilst Exeter move out of the relegation zone at Swansea's expense after they drew 3-3 at Rochdale, for whom Paul Simpson scored the second. Lincoln and Bury drew 1-1, as did Darlington and Scunthorpe, and Shrewsbury and Hull, oh and York and Wrexham. The only other Division Three game ended Orient 2 Southend 1, with Orient's winner courtesy of a Phil Whelan own goal.

Other scorers of interest include Sam Stockley, who put Colchester ahead before they ended up drawing 1-1 with Barnsley, and Andy Thomson who scored QPR's equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Wigan.

Over to Dover

Dover's 2-1 win at Woking in their FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay means that United will have to travel to the far reaches of Kent in the first round proper on November 16th. Last time United played there in the FA Cup, in November 1981, they won 2-0, so let's hope history is in the mood for repetition.