United continued their fine, unbeaten, pre-season form with a deserved win over Third Division AFC Bournemouth. Oxford started with Chris Tardif in goal, and unusually the side's second-choice keeper played the full match. Eddie Odhiambo-Anaclet and Alex Jeannin were the two wing backs; this is the third game in succession that they've played in those roles, indicating that Jim Smith is likely to play these players in this formation in the season proper. The back three was Michael Corcoran, who signed a one-year contract earlier in the week, Barry Quinn, and Matt Day. The central midfield trio comprised Eddie Hutchinson, who also lasted the 90 minutes, triallist Michael Standing, whose presence for the third match in a row surely indicates that he is due to be signed, and Phil Trainer, while Yemi Odubade and Gary Twigg again started up front, Yemi having recovered from the twisted ankle that he received at Didcot Town last Saturday.

Oxford started brightly, although Bournemouth retained possession better, as one might expect from a side two divisions higher. In the 16th minute the Us broke the deadlock from a Standing corner that was only partially cleared. The ball fell to Trainer, on the edge of the area, and his first-time shot beat Gareth Stewart.

Bournemouth clear the corner that leads to Trainer's goal

The Cherries equalised ten minutes later, when United lost possession in the middle of the park. The ball eventually found its way to Reda Shahata, whose cross was missed by the defence and reached the far post, where Darren Anderton was on hand to poke the ball past Tardif. Shibon Rondo put the ball in the net a few minutes later, but Tardif was unsighted by a player in an offside position, and the goal was ruled out. The final action of the first half saw an excellent cross from Trainer hit first time on the volley by Jeannin, but the ball went over.

Unusually, United made no changes at half time, and they immediately made their mark. Just four minutes after the break Odubade latched on to an excellent through ball from Jeannin, and despite controlling the ball with his hand he smashed it past Stewart to put United back in front. Tardif's shot stopping was again immaculate as he denied Jo Kuffour; the former Brentford man was clean through, just four yards out.

On the hour, United made a quintuple substitution. Luke Foster, Carl Pettefer, Joel Ledgister, Rob Duffy, and Marvin Robinson replaced Anaclet, Corcoran, Standing, Yemi, and Twigg. Oxford were creating the better chances, and as the game drew to its end Duffy twice came close to extending their lead. First, his volley went narrowly wide after he had teed himself up excellently, and then he met a superlative ball from Ledgister first time, but Stewart saved well from close range.

United make five changes. From left: 12 Carl Pettefer, 14 Rob Duffy, 12 (again) Marvin Robinson, umm 14 (again) Joel Ledgister, 16 Luke Foster

The normal caveat about not taking too much notice about pre-season results obviously applies, but yet again there were far more positives than negatives from this Oxford display. Trainer was outstanding in the middle of the park, winning every challenge, making himself available, and surging forward when possible. Standing again gave a display that demonstrated how useful it would be to have him in the squad, while Ledgister's pace scared the Bournemouth defence whenever he had the ball at his feet. Twigg held the ball up well, and brought his teammates into the game, while Duffy looks leaner, fitter, and hungrier than he has for a while. If there were any criticisms to be made, it could be argued that Hutch looked a bit off the pace, and he and Day gave away too many needless fouls, but that would be nit picking, really.