Yellow Fever gives RO the trots

Parity in the Fanzine matches

On Saturday morning a capacity crowd of five (including a baby in a pushchair) witnessed Yellow Fever exact revenge for their defeat at the end of last season by Rage On. YF stormed into a 3-0 half-time lead and then increased their advantage by adding another two goals shortly after the break.

Rage On then found a first wind and pulled three goals back in quick succession to leave the numerically superior YF reeling. As Rage On pushed everyone (including goalie Gunth) forward in search of more goals YF broke quickly and sealed the result with the last kick of the game, lucky bleeders. Man of the Match was probably this reporter, although everyone else will doubtless disagree.

Same old, same old

United 1 Rochdale 2

Oxford lost their first league game at Minchery Farm, going down 2-1 to Rochdale after being 1-0 down at halftime. Matthew Doughty put the visitors ahead on the half hour whilst Jamie Brooks scored the historic first goal for United at the new ground in the 52nd minute. However the vast majority of the 7,842 crowd were destined to go home disappointed when Simon Coleman scored the winner after 66 minutes.

United started with the same team that began against Crystal Palace last week: Richard Knight in goal; a back three of Scott Guyett, Phil Bolland and Wayne Hatswell; Sam Stockley and Paul Powell as right and left wingbacks respectively; captain Martin Thomas, Paul Tait and Dave Savage in central midfield and Andy Scott and Brooks up front. In the second half Sam Ricketts replaced Powell and shortly afterwards Manny Omoyinmi came on for Thomas.

Card-happy referee David Crick showed yellow cards to Guyett, Bolland, Stockley and Scott. A match report of sorts can be found here.

Elsewhere former United striker Nigel Jemson scored the only goal as Shrewsbury won at Plymouth. The other three relegated team all won, Bristol Rovers beating Torquay 1-0 at the Memorial Ground, Luton won 3-0 at Carlisle and Swansea beat Macclesfield 3-1 away. Promotion favourites Hull started their season in style winning 3-1 at Exeter and League newcomers Rushden & Diamonds won 1-0 at York.