United secured victory against a resilient Chesterfield side thanks to Derek Lilley's last minute lob over Spireites' 'keeper John Vaughan. United had taken a first half lead thanks to Peter Fear, whose 25 yard rocket was his first for United. Chesterfield's second half equaliser was almost as good, new signing from Tranmere Ryan Williams volleying home from the edge of the area, but Lilley's strike ensured that Oxford secured their second successive league win for the first time this season. United's starting line-up was the same as at Wycombe last week, but in the second half Lilley replaced loanee Craig Russell and with a few minutes remaining Steve Anthrobus came on for Paul Tait. After Lilley's goal Denis Smith shored up the defence by replacing Rage Online Player of the Decade Joey Beauchamp with Mickey Lewis, who didn't actually get to touch the ball in anger. Smith will be pleased that United escaped any bookings, and doubtless he would also be pleased to read this match report.
After today's game the Rage Online Player of the Decade Joey Beauchamp said on Radio Oxford that he was pleased to receive some recognition at last from Oxford supporters, after missing out on the Player of the Year award a couple of seasons ago. Rage Online shares Joey's pleasure!
Birmingham City's 4-1 thrashing of swindon town was started by a goal from Darren Purse, who obviously remembers when to score important goals. Rotherham's third in their 4-2 win over Carlisle was scored by Brian Wilsterman, just to make sure that we remember him.
…but not on Oxford United, unfortunately. It has transpired that Firoz Kassam has bought the Nat West national staff training HQ at Heythrop, near Enstone. The estimated price of the buildings and their extensive grounds is between £13 million and £15 million which, some might argue, should have been spent on strengthening the team although presumably Kassam has set budgets for each of his business operations and this money would not have been set aside for spending on OUFC anyway. The buildings have been for sale for about a year, since Nat West shut down their operations at Heythrop, and would make an ideal residential conference centre, should one be interested in such things.
…the visit of Chesterfield to the Manor in a tie eagerly awaited by a small number of people. Apparently thousands of yellow and blue balloons are to be released before the game, courtesy of the Oxford Mail. Why? Also before the game, much more significantly, Joey Beauchamp is to receive his prestigious Rage Online Player of the Decade award – a magnificent trophy worthy of any mantelpiece. United look set to field an unchanged team from the Wycombe victory, which is nice, and which means that United supporters will be expecting a convincing win over the division's bottom team, especially now that Denis has had time to work his magic on the squad. FOUL will be distributing anti-Morrells leaflets prior to the match.
Thanks to a call of “heads” by the South Korean coach Canada qualified for the next stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, as they won the toss following a 2-2 draw between the Koreans and Costa Rica. Costa Rica qualified automatically as the group's top goalscorers whilst Canada and South Korea finished dead level. Canada now face Mexico in the quarter-finals in San Diego on Sunday, meaning that if the formbook is followed Mark Watson should be available for the Wrexham game next Saturday.
Malcolm Crosby has left Derby County by “mutual consent” this morning because “Malcolm still lives in Oxford and finds the travel a strain”, according to Jim Smith. Both Crosby and Denis Smith have denied rumours that the fuzzy-haired former assistant is about to return to the Manor as Den's number 2, so expect to see him in the dugout anytime now.
John Durnin's loan move to Carlisle has now been converted into a free transfer.
Supporters group FOUL has sent a press release to local and national media, plus other football supporters websites and CAMRA, urging a mass boycott of Morrells outlets in the hope that both the profits and reputation of the brewery will be damaged enough to force them to withdraw their threat of seeking an injunction preventing the building of the stadium and ancillary developments at Minchery Farm. Meanwhile Firoz Kassam has issued a statement urging patience from United supporters whilst he attempts to negotiate with Morrells, although unfortunately he has also intimated that all the various obstacles he has encountered are stretching his own patience towards breaking point. Morrells, on the other hand, have denied that they had any agreement with Kassam and have expressed their “disappointment” at the threat of a fans boycott (don't we feel sorry for them?) and claimed that the fact that they've spent £6 million on refurbishing pubs in Oxford shows that they're not being greedy, right.
For some reason beyond our understanding there appears to be a link to the official Oxford United internet site from the Holiday Inn, London site. Curious, eh?
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