Oxford United 0 Torquay United 0

George Dugdale

Oxford were made to rue missed chances as Torquay held on for a point at Grenoble Road. Jon-Paul Pittman and James Constable missed good opportunities as United were able to turn second half domination into three points.

Chris Wilder made three changes to the side who were beaten by Dagenham on Tuesday with Johnny Mullins replacing Michael Raynes at centre-back. Liam Davis took over from Tony Capaldi on the left side of defence, while Simon Heslop replaced Adam Chapman on the right of midfield as Alfie Potter continued his recovery from a hamstring injury.

This may be one of the shorter first half reports you read on this website.

The first chance fell to United as Tom Craddock released Constable on the right of the area, but his low shot was smothered Martin Rice.

At the other end Kevin Nicholson and Nathan Craig curled free-kicks wide of Ryan Clarke’s goal, while the United stopper palmed another effort wide of the post.

There was plenty of bumping, barging and yards covered as the two sides attempted to figure each other out, but not a great deal to worry either goalkeeper. Unsurprisingly, Lee Cox was enjoying the contest and was able to provide United with the kind of platform that was never established on Tuesday night.

Tom Craddock had taken a hefty challenge to his already sore ribs in the latter stages of the first half and was forced from the action at the break, replaced by Pittman.

The substitute immediately worked United’s clearest chance of the afternoon so far. He span his marker on the edge of the Torquay area, but flashed a left-footed strike narrowly over the bar when a more composed finish was required.

Torquay had a goal disallowed for offside (although the flag had been up for quite a while), before Sean Rigg flashed a low effort wide of the right post. Moments later, he couldn’t plant a right-footed half-volley on target as United tried to make their pressure count.

Peter Leven stung the palms of Rice with a free-kick shortly after the hour mark, before Constable brought a reaction save from the goalkeeper. Adam Chapman, who had replaced Heslop, dinked the ball to Pittman and his lay off was heading for the roof of the net before Rice’s intervention.

The deadlock should finally have been broken with eight minutes remaining. Constable shifted Chapman’s pass to his left foot but could only blaze the ball into the East Stand as the United fans willed the ball to hit the net.

Leven was the next to be denied by Rice and when the ball looked to have fallen into the path of Pittman, a superb recovery tackle denied him.

Torquay somehow escaped punishment for the most obvious barge from behind as Constable was sent flying in the penalty area, before an Andy Whing header was cleared off the line from a corner to compound the hosts’ frustrations.

This was far better than Tuesday night’s performance, but the fact remains that United have only taken a point from the six available at home. Fortunately, the league is so tight that teams are not escaping and if United could string a run together, it’s anything but too late. However, they will have to be more clinical than they were today.

If there is a positive, it is that United picked up a point. The Mullins-Wright partnership looks superb and however profligate our attacking proves to be, there is a confidence that this defence can keep clean sheets.

Lee Cox had a storming game in the midfield, Sean Rigg was lively once more and when he came on, Adam Chapman made a far greater impact on the right side than he had on Tuesday night.

Torquay were not a great side and when you consider their position in the table, there isn’t a great deal for United to fear. The issue is making sure that teams who are dominated are sent home without a point and that Oxford can string performances together. That hasn’t happened yet and it needs to soon, for the sake of all of health.

I do not like referee Robert Madley. It turns out, a number of Rage Online match report writers don’t rate him much either. He has been described on these pages as ‘hapless’ and ‘bizarre’. Do you remember that free-kick won by Jefferson Louis for Crawley Town against Mark Creighton? Robert Madley.

I didn’t actually know that Madley was the referee until writing this report, but I had guessed during the game that it may well have been. There was an incident in the first half where the linesman incorrectly gave a corner kick and Mr Madley ran over signally a goal kick while patting his chest – “Don’t worry lads, I’ve got this.” I’ve never met Mr Madley, but I suspect he fancies himself a bit. He was recently the official for a televised fixture between Shrewsbury and Walsall, where his performance was widely criticised. “I hope we don’t have him soon,” I thought. No such luck.

We should have taken other chances, but how the assault on Constable wasn’t a foul, I have no idea. Anywhere else on the pitch…

That point moves Oxford up to 17th place, while Torquay sit in 8th. Leaders Gillingham drew 2-2 at Plymouth, while Port Vale again failed to capitalise with a 0-0 draw at Southend. Cheltenham moved level on points with Vale after a 1-0 victory over Burton, while Bradford are in 4th after a 2-0 win at Aldershot. Fleetwood were pegged back to draw 2-2 at Exeter, while Rochdale remain in the play-offs with a 2-1 win at Wycombe.

Aldershot and Wycombe remain level on points with Wycombe and Barnet at the bottom, who were thumped 4-1 by Morecambe. AFC Wimbledon moved clear of the drop zone with a 3-0 victory at York. Northampton won 4-2 at Accrington Stanley, while Bristol Rovers beat Chesterfield, United’s next opponents, 3-2.

In the shock result of the day, Dagenham beat Rotherham 5-0.

Attendance: 5,773