United lost 1-0 at home to relegation-threatened Northwich Victoria this afternoon, thanks to an inevitable goal from ex-U Lee Steele. Steele's goal came from the first real chance of the match, after ten minutes, as Michael Howard and Luke Foster allowed a long ball to go through to Billy Turley. As Turley fell on the ball it squirmed out of his grasp, and rebounded off Howard straight to Steele, unmarked and six yards out of an open goal. Steele doesn't miss those sorts of opportunities, especially against Oxford. The rest of the first half was generally a rearguard action by the Vics, determined to continue their current fine run of form at United's expense. Oxford, of course, were trying to continue their own good run, which had seen them win their last three matches, and created half chances for Matt Green, Justin Richards, and Phil Trainer. The best chance came when Adam Murray's excellent long pass set Trainer free in the Northwich penalty area, but he delayed shooting just long enough for Ben Connett to come out and smother the danger.

The Vics started the second half well, and threatened to increase their lead. Darryn Stamp forced Turley to make amends for his earlier error with a fine one-handed save. The game turned with one of a number of bizarre refereeing decisions, as Adam Watts was deceived by Jamie Mullen's blatant dive, for which he showed Foster his second yellow, and eventually a red, card. This error brought the home fans to life, and they spurred United on towards the Northwich goal. Mr Watts waved away a succession of claims for fouls, some in the penalty area, while continuing to frustrate Oxford by awarding some soft free kicks in the other direction. The closest United came was when Connett turned aside a shot from Howard, although both Craig McAllister and Yemi Odubade both had opportunities blocked. This was a bad day at the office for the Us, but hopefully not one that will disrupt the momentum of the recent revival.[@news]2295[/@news][@opponent]northwich victoria[/@opponent]

Darren Patterson made just one change to the side that beat Stevenage Borough 2-1 on Monday, as Howard came back into the side in exchange for Michael Blackwood. Patto made a double change at half time, bringing on McAllister for Richards, and Blackwood for Jamie Hand. A third change came quarter of an hour later, when Yemi was brought on for Matt Green.

We have witnessed some poor refereeing over the last few seasons at Grenoble Road (and elsewhere), but no one has yet produced such a diabolical performance as Adam Watts, taking charge of his first United match. The Foster dismissal was just one of a number of bizarre decisions that combined to totally ruin the game as a spectacle. At least with other poor officials we've been able to comment that they were equally poor for both sides, but Mr Watts is an exception to this rule, penalising United for fouls that he permitted the Northwich players to get away with. In addition to wrongly sending off Foster, he also showed yellows to Eddie Anaclet for a tackle, and to Matt Day, for Anaclet being fouled. On top of all this, he send United's assistant manager Mickey Lewis to the stands for having the temerity to come onto the pitch to kick the ball back to Connett after the whistle had gone. Bah! Today's attendance was 4,673, of whom 116 hardy souls had ventured forth from the tiny hamlet of Northwich.

United have slipped back into the bottom half of the Conference, and now lie in 14th place. Northwich are still third from bottom, but are now level on points with Halifax, who have had ten points deducted for entering into administration, and who lost 1-0 at sixth-placed Exeter City today. Bottom club Droylsden are 18 points from safety after drawing 0-0 at Rushden & Diamonds, with Stafford Rangers just one point above them after they lost 2-1 at home to table-toppers Aldershot. Farsley Celtic are fifth bottom, three points ahead of Halifax, and are one of three sides on 36 points, the topmost of whom, Weymouth, they beat 4-2 today, with Simon Weatherstone scoring for the Terras. United's next game is at Weymouth. Sandwiched between Farsley and Weymouth are Altrincham, who drew 1-1 with second-placed Torquay United.

Third-placed Burton Albion were without a game today, visiting eighth-placed Forest Green Rovers on Monday, but Cambridge United in fourth place failed to take advantage, going down 3-0 at home to a resurgent Kidderminster Harriers, who won 4-0 at Crawley on Thursday. Alex Jeannin was booked for Kiddy. Stevenage Borough remain fifth, after they lost 1-0 at Salisbury City on Thursday. Histon's good season continued with a 3-3 draw at Woking, to leave the Cambridgeshire side in seventh place, while Grays Athletic beat Crawley 2-1, and York City were beaten 1-0 by Ebbsfleet United at Bootham Crescent.