For the second consecutive season, Oxford United fought out a dour goalless draw with Woking. This was the first time this season that United have failed to score at home, and the disappointment at the final whistle was palpable. This wasn't a game totally devoid of chances, and if Woking's finishing was even marginally better they could have won handsomely, as they hit the woodwork three times, while United struck the post once as well. All this happened in the first half, which for a neutral could have been considered reasonably exciting. The second period, in contrast, was a damp squib.

The away side made the early running, perhaps sensing United's traditional nervousness at home, and Tom Hutchinson, twin brother of United's Eddie (Hutchinson, that is, not Anaclet) almost immediately forced Billy Turley into an acrobatic save. The visitors then had a free kick, conceded by Luke Foster, which came off the bar, and Marvin Morgan, who reacted first, hit the rebound against the bar. Turley then had to make another save, before United finally managed to relieve the siege. There wasn't much else to report for most of the half, until five minutes before the break, when Phil Trainer lobbed the ball over the Woking defence, only for it to come back off the bar. Just before half time Woking hit the bar for the third time, the cards.

United almost scored just after the break, when Yemi Odubade did well to get a cross in, but Jordan Rhodes' header went just the wrong side of the post. The only other real sight of goal came after some neat passing from United, when Alex Jeannin received the ball from Rhodes, but blasted just wide. The rest of the half was littered with petty fouls and misplaced passes, and there was probably more pretty football on show at the evening's rugby world cup final.

Jim Smith stuck with the 4-4-2 line-up that United played with in the second half at Farsley Celtic last week, but with Phil Gilchrist injured Barry Quinn came back into the back four. This meant a start for Matt Day at left back, with Danny Rose not featuring. At half time a double substitution saw United lose their shape, and ultimately any impetus they might have had. Chris Willmott went off, with Michael Standing coming into the midfield, playing just behind the front two. Foster went into the centre of defence in Willmott's place, with Day moving to right back and Jeannin dropping back to the left-back position to cover for him. In midfield, Hutchinson (ours, not Woking's) replaced Carl Pettefer, meaning United lost any width they might have had.

The referee was, initially, Andy Hendley, who took charge of United's home defeat by Rushden & Diamonds last season, but he only lasted quarter of an hour before limping off, to be replaced by his assistant, D Meeson. Mr Meeson started by allowing the game to flow, but he soon descended into the whistle-happy official who penalised tackles that looked legitimate, which led to more illegal tackles flying in. Four Oxford players found their way into Mr Meeson's naughy notebook, including Stefan Bailey on his home debut, Day, Foster, and Jeannin. Today's attendance was 4,713, considerably less than half the number that attended the same fixture last season.

The point saw United move up one place to tenth, going above Kidderminster Harriers, who lost 2-0 at home to Weymouth. Woking go 17th. Aldershot went back top following their 1-0 win over Halifax, achieved with a 90th-minute goal, while Torquay visit York City tomorrow. Burton Albion stay third after they drew 3-3 at Stevenage Borough on Thursday. Cambridge United were held to a 1-1 draw at the Abbey by Salisbury City. Sixth-placed Forest Green Rovers were held to a 2-2 draw by Farsley Celtic, in 20th place.

Histon won 1-0 at second-bottom Droylsden to go seventh, while Ebbsfleet United moved up to eighth following their 3-1 win at fourth-bottom Altrincham. Exeter City were held to a 2-2 draw by Rushden, with Wayne Hatswell helping the Grecians by scoring their first goal for them. Northwich Victoria, on the verge of going into administration, consolidated their position at the foot of the table with a 3-1 defeat at Grays Athletic. Third-bottom Stafford Rangers scored a last-minute equaliser to earn an unlikely point with a 1-1 draw at Crawley, for whom Jamie Cook had scored the opening goal.