On Saturday Raging Fever lined up against Grimsby fans to see if we could put together a winning run.

Under the cosh early on from Grimsby pressure, the Fever managed to create a number of decent attacks, mainly through the ability and passing skills of Gary Neville in centre midfield. However, as we were lacking our usual excess of midfielders, Martin Brodetsky played right wing early on, so most

of our dangerous attacking moves came down the left, with Neville linking well with Steve Gilbert and, occasionally,with left-back, Gary Butler.

Unfortunately, a quick attack down the Fever left caused problems in the centre leaving Grimsby with a man spare, and able to score easily. Soon after this Grimsby doubled their tally after the Fever were unable to clear the ball cleanly from the area, Butler’s clearance allowing the Grimsby midfielder to put in their striker. The shot was not hit cleanly, but the ball dribbled under the dive of debutant ‘keeper Jim Henderson. As usual, a goalkeeping error gifting the opposition a goal (see Bristol Rovers report and any other where Butler was in goal for more details of

goalkeeping cock-ups!).

Half time came with Fever having the better possession and play, but unable to beat the Grimsby ‘keeper and captain, who was this reporter’s man of the match, saving a number of good Oxford efforts from John Matthews, Kasim and Neville among others.

Oxford started the second half more strongly than the Grimsby team, but then individual defensive errors cost the Mighty Yellows four goals in a fifteen minute spell. The first of these four followed a defensive

error, Henderson saved the initial shot well but the striker followed up to score. The next was a lob over Henderson following a defender being caught in

possession, then Butler was beaten narrowly for pace by their main protagonist (Butler could have brought him down clear on goal if he had tried a bit harder!) following a ball over the top, and finally a back pass

by Pat Wehmeier was picked up by Henderson, leading to another goal following the free kick, this one being shinned into the top corner by the Grimsby right

winger.

Despite this, Fever still managed to create chances. The Grimsby keeper saved from three yards, and a fantastic cross from the right almost led to a Grimsby defender putting through his own net. The final Grimsby goal came on 64 minutes. Butler, having already made one last ditch challenge on the larger and slower of the two Grimsby forwards, again made a sliding challenge as the last man, only to see the ball bounce up off his foot, hit the ginger-haired Grimsby man on the knees and fall kindly for the Grimsby man to finish past Henderson.

At this point Butler decided he’d been involved in enough Grimsby goals and substituted himself a minute earlier than the manager was going to.

Wehmeier then decided to take matters into his own hands and left his centre half berth and play up front. This, and the introduction of Brodetsky in to

a three-, but more often two-man, back line with Andy Kelly and Geoff Carter surprisingly firmed up Oxford’s defence as no further goals were conceded.

The Fever played a lot of good football, and with Neville at the heart of things, pulling the strings, they were unlucky not to score before an excellent

move; a Grimsby corner was cleared to Neville, who took the ball over the half-way line and picked out Matthews with a ball over the Grimsby back

line. Matthews immediately found Wehmeier, who beat one man and passed back to Matthews to finish with a low shot into the bottom corner with the ‘keeper well beaten.

The starting line up was Henderson; Carter; Kelly; Wehmeier; Butler; Brodetsky; Domi; Neville; Gilbert; Kasim and Matthews. Sub: Lucas.

Changes: Lucas for Carter (25 mins); Carter for Brodetsky (HT) and Brodetsky for Butler (64).

From your reporter at the match (unlike an Oxford Mail reporter one could mention): Gary Butler