U's scrape another win

Didcot Town 0 Oxford United 1

A headed goal from Paul Tait just before half time was enough to give United a second pre-season victory, but the Yellows made hard work of beating a Didcot team five divisions below them. The performance showed up Oxford's dire need for a player who can score goals as time after time the team failed to break down Town's defence.

In the second half Andy Scott was denied on three occasions by excellent saves from the Didcot goalkeeper Gareth Walker, and Rob Folland went close but otherwise Oxford never looked like scoring. Neither did Didcot, whose strike force was effectively neutralised by the United rearguard and neither of the two triallist goalkeepers on show (one allegedly from Livingston and Nathan Abbey again) were able to demonstrate their potential.

Other triallists on display were left back Simon Betts of Scarborough and Gareth Hall, formerly of Chelsea and swindon and an ex-Wales international. Both of these gave competent performances and Hall in particular gave the midfield a spark of creativity, despite being a tad too bulky. John Dreyer played for the whole match and looked very solid.