Oxford United 2 Thurrock 0

It took some time, but eventually Oxford managed to dispose of Thurrock and advance into the first round of the FA Cup. The first half was a fairly even affair, with the Conference South visitors passing the ball well and harrying United when the Yellows were in possession. However, it was the home team that created the better chances, with Jamie Cook forcing Joe Woolley into a smart save, and Adam Murray clipping the outside of the post from ten yards. Those opportunities aside, neither goalkeeper had a lot to do in a first half littered with misplaced passes and a lack of spark.

The second half was far better, at least as far as Oxford were concerned. They looked more menacing going forward and often had Thurrock stretched. Seven minutes after the break United should have taken the lead when Cook found himself clear in the penalty area. However, instead of shooting first time Cook tried to drag the ball inside, was closed down, and ended up shooting against the post. A corner was awarded, even though it probably wasn't, and the ball was knocking around the box until Murray centred and found Mark Creighton in space. The Beast hit the ball first time with his left foot and the deadlock was broken.

The momentum was with United, and Luke Foster headed a corner narrowly wide, while Jack Midson tried his luck with a chip that went just over. Blatant fouls on Cook and Sam Deering on the edge of the box weren't punished, but United continued to press and some excellent work by Steven Kinniburgh on the left wing climaxed with Deering's header hitting the post. With 12 minutes remaining Oxford made the game safe when Deering latched onto a through-ball from Damian Batt, wriggled into the area, and squared the ball for Simon Clist, yet to score at home. Unfortunately Clist missed his kick, but it was enough to put off substitute Lee Flynn, who bundled the ball into his own goal. In the remaining time Midson flicked the ball home but was offside, Kinniburgh fizzed a shot narrowly over, while Dannie Bulman, still waiting for his first Oxford goal, was clean through with just Woolley to beat, but somehow shot wide. United did what they had to do to get through to the next round, although there was a lot of concern that in the first half they could have been found guilty of complacency. The second-half turnaround ensured that the crowd will be watching the draw tomorrow for the next round.

As anticipated, Midson started up front in place of the suspended James Constable, while Adam Chapman came into the side to replace the also-suspended Matt Green. Otherwise, this was United's strongest line-up, a sign of how seriously Chris Wilder was taking Thurrock. At half time Chapman was replaced by Deering, playing his first game since breaking his leg on Boxing Day, in Wilder's first game in charge. He provided the spark for United to go on and dominate the match. Kevin Sandwith came on for Cook, which allowed Kinniburgh to move further upfield.

Today's referee was the famous Amy Rayner, who didn't send off Creighton last season, when he was playing for Kidderminster Harriers against Oxford at the Kas, for a foul on Constable. She had a good game, playing sensible advantage, although she got quite choosy over whom she penalised as the game progressed. She did have the opportunity to dismiss Creighton again after her assistant flagged for a foul when he was the last man, but instead she settled for a bit off gossip with the man twice her size. In fact, she refrained from showing any cards at all to Oxford players. Today's attendance was 3,296, with allegedly exactly 100 Thurrockly pissed off away fans. Or did they just forget to count and make up a figure?

In tomorrow's draw, live on ITV at 13.00, Oxford are ball number 76. Oxford City are also through, having beaten Bury Town 2-1 after being a goal down at half time, and then reduced to ten men. They are ball 69. In today's all-Conference games, Barrow and Chester City drew 1-1, as did Crawley Town and AFC Wimbledon. Mansfield Town beat United's opponents on Saturday, Altrincham, 3-0, which was the same scoreline by which Luton Town beat Grays Athletic. Other Conference sides that failed to make it into the first round proper were Ebbsfleet United, beaten 3-0 at Bromley, Histon, who lost 2-1 at Hinckley United, and Tamworth, who went down 2-0 at Ilkeston Town. Hayes & Yeading lost 1-0 at home to Staines. [@news]2580[/@news][@opponent]thurrock[/@opponent]