Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 3 – 1 OXFORD UNITED

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER – Saturday 6 October 2007

Report by Gary Owen

Droylsden recorded arguably their most significant victory in their 115 year history in front of the watching nation on Saturday evening, when they recorded their fist ever victory in non-league's top flight, and also avoided equalling Dagenham's record of 12 successive defeats in this league.

Veteran manager Jim Smith brought his Oxford team to the Butcher's Arms for the first time in their history, but the 'Bald Eagle' and his players will not have enjoyed their experience on the pitch!

With both teams desperate for the three points – Oxford to boost their promotion chances and The Bloods to haul themselves from the foot of the table – it was the hosts who looked the the more threatening in the first half, leaving the former League Cup winners looking rather bemused.

The first strike on target resulted in a goal, when Jamie Tandy cut the ball back for Jody Banim, who showed clever feet to stand the ball up at the far post for Steve Daly to nod home.

Liam Murray then managed to get his head to a Jamie Tandy free kick, but he couldn't direct it goalwards, and Barry Quinn saw his shot deflected over the bar for Oxford.

On 30 minutes, Banim again weaved his magic, but Dale Stephens failed to get sufficient power in his close range shot, and Billy Turley saved.

Daly then won an aerial tussle with Chris Wilmot, but Turley grabbed his looping effort out of the evening sky.

Moments before the break, Oxford failed to clear a Droylsden corner, and Banim's half volley forced a fine point blank save from Turley.

Jim Smith made a double substitution at half time, and Oxford looked better in the second half attacking the end with their own fans. The impressive Yemi Odubade ran at the Bloods' defence, and Murray had to hook clear from under his own crossbar, before the lively forward flashed another shot wide of the mark.

Eddie Hutchinson should have levelled matters on 53 minutes, but he headed over when unmarked from Quinn's cross.

That miss proved costly, as moments later Denham ran at Alex Jeannin, and the referee's assistant placed his flag accross his chest to indicate a penalty, which Banim rammed down the centre of the goal to establish a 2-0 lead – the fist time this season that Droylsden had found themsleves with such a cushion.

Hutchinson attempted to atone for his earlier miss, but pulled his shot a yard wide from the edge of the box, before Paul Shaw held off the attentions of Colin Cryan to turn and shoot, but the recalled Paul Phillips was equal to his effort.

With eight minutes remaining and Oxford chasing the game, Denham broke away down the right flank and played in Jamie McGuire, who slotted home under Turley, who will be disppointed that he didn't deal with the midfielder's shot better.

That secured the victory, but the Bloods endured some nail-biting moments in the closing minutes, including Odubade's consolation strike on 87 minutes, which denied Droylsden their second clean sheet of the season.

Dave Pace was clearly delighted. "I'm over the moon" he enthused afterwards. "We've been very unlcuky so far this season. I've said all along that we're in a false position. I'm not getting carried away – we need to reproduce that performance against Farsley on Tuesday. If we can continue to produce that level of performance, then I think we can establish oursleves in this division."

TEAMS

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Halford, Cryan, Murray, McGuire, Lynch, Stephens, Tandy, Banim, Daly (Fearns, 87), Denham.

Subs. not used: Morris, Gibson, Burke, Senior (G/K).

OXFORD UNITED: Turley, Foster, Wilmott, Gnohere (Pettefer, 46), Day (Twigg, 46), Jeannin, Hutchinson, Trainer, Quinn, Odubade, Shaw.

Subs. not used: Edwards, Aiston

REFREE: Mr. C. D. Sarginson (Rugeley, Staffordshire)

ATTENDANCE: 1,074