Oxford United went down to their first Conference defeat of the season this afternoon, at Gravesend & Northfleet. Disappointing as the result was, United can have no complaints as they failed to get going, and didn’t have a meaningful attempt on goal throughout the match. Gravesend’s victory was fully deserved, and they celebrated as though they had won a cup final. The Radio Kent commentator claimed that it was the club’s biggest ever win, which is a bit sad really.

The clubs went in level at half time, but United could easily have been a goal or more down, but for some fine saves from Billy Turley, notably from Conference leading scorer Charlie MacDonald just before the break, and some poor finishing from Gravesend. Oxford fared slightly better at the start of the second period, but the hosts scored the goal that their general play deserved with about 20 minutes left. The pace of Onome Sodje allowed him to get in front of Turley, and he took the ball around the goalkeeper before slotting home. The home defence, marshalled by Paul McCarthy, kept the Us at bay for the rest of the game, which ended with United’s display scant reward for yet another large away following.

Jim Smith made two changes to the side that lost at Wycombe in the FA Cup last weekend. Andy Burgess was fit again to resume his place in midfield, with Eddie Hutchinson not even making the bench today. Up front, new loan signing Jamie Slabber started in place of Yemi Odubade, who was on the bench. The first substitution was made on the hour mark, with Smith taking off Steve Basham and bringing on Yemi in the hope that his pace would be the key to unlock the home defence. Eight minutes later, the disappointing Slabber was also taken off, with Gavin Johnson coming on, taking up a place in midfield as Burgess moved forward to partner Yemi in attack. The final substitution took place with quarter of an hour to go. Rufus Brevett was injured in the build-up to Gravesend’s goal, and he was unable to run it off, and so Matt Day came on to replace him. Overall this was a disappointing performance from the Us, with only Turley and possibly Barry Quinn emerging from the match with any real credit.

Today’s referee was R East. He didn’t have too bad a game, by Conference refereeing standards, although his booking of Phil Gilchrist was slightly harsh. His booking of Eddie Anaclet was much less so. Today’s attendance was 2,019, around 800 more than Gravesend’s previous best crowd of the season. We have been promised a match report, which we will publish upon receipt.

United’s defeat means that the gap between them and Dagenham & Redbridge has now been narrowed to just two points, after the East London side beat Burton Albion 3-0, leaving the Brewers down in 7th place. Gravesend rose to fifth. Weymouth are still third, despite losing 2-1 at home to York, who are now fourth. Morecambe are up to sixth after their 3-1 win at Cambridge United, who are 19th. Exeter are eighth after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to 17th-placed Kidderminster.

Southport remain bottom of the Conference, despite drawing 2-2 at tenth-placed Aldershot. Crawley stay second from bottom after drawing 1-1 at Altrincham, who are nestled snuggly between Kidderminster and Cambridge. Rushden have slipped to third from bottom after losing 3-2 at fourth-bottom St Albans. United’s next opponents are 20th-placed Tamworth, who beat Woking, in 12th place, 3-1. Elsewhere, 9th-placed Grays Athletic lost 1-0 at Stevenage Borough, Stafford Rangers are 11th after going down 3-1 at Halifax, and Forest Green Rovers beat Northwich Victoria 2-1.