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

OXFORD UNITED 1 – 0 DROYLSDEN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER - Saturday 16 February 2008

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods were unfortunate not to come away with something from their first ever visit to the Kassam Stadium, as the U's sought revenge for their defeat at the Butcher's Arms earlier this season.

The home side began well, but Droylsden's resilience grew as the game wore on, and almost snatched a point in added time, leaving the home faithful with much shorter finger nails than at 3pm.

There was only ten minutes on the clock when Oxford recorded their first shot on target, as Matt Green chested the ball down for Justin Richards to shoot straight at Paul Phillips.

Richards was presented with another chance when Karl Munroe's header fell to him, but he fired wide.

Jody Banim had earlier shot off target for Droylsden, but on 28 minutes he had Bill Turley scrambling across his goal from Jamie McGuire's knock-down, and to the relief of the home ‘keeper the ball was a yard wide of the mark.

However, on 31 minutes Oxford scored what proved to be the only goal in controversial circumstances. Steve Halford was adjudged to have fouled when he appeared to play the ball, but as the free kick was sent into the danger area, Munroe lost his footing at the vital moment allowing Barry Quinn to side-foot home at the far post into the opposite corner.

Many then expected another onslaught, but it did not arrive due to a combination of Oxfrord's lack of quality in the final third and some sound defending by the Bloods, particularly through Halford and Greg Strong.

Adam Murray twice won possession in midfield for the hosts, and on each occasion he put Matt Green away, but Phillips saved his first effort and his second went tamely wide.

After the turnaround, Ashley Burbeary's shot was easy for Turley, and Richards headed straight at Phillips at the other end.

Although Turley was rarely threatened, the men in front of him were kept busy, notably by Banim, but also by Burbeary and Connall Murtagh.

Home substitute Danny Rose then hit a free kick too high, but with four minutes remaining, Richards should have made the game safe for Darren Patterson's side, but he blazed over from 8 yards with the goal at his mercy after Yemi Obubade's blocked volley fell into his path.

Obudabe then shot straight at Phillips, but in the last of the added minutes, Droylsden should have struck an equaliser, but Terry Fearns failed to get a connection to Banim's pass just yards from goal and the chance was gone, leaving Droylsden still in search of their first away point of 2008.

TEAMS:

OXFORD UNITED: Turley, Day, Howard, Quinn, Foster, Odhiambo-Anaclet (McAllister, 78'), Murray, Hutchinson, Blackwood (Rose, 71'), Richards, Green (Odubade, 61')

Subs not used: Trainer, Clarke.

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Cryan, Halford, Munroe, Strong (Ellis, 86), Murtagh, Mackin (Fearns, 64), McGuire (Lynch, 79'), Burbeary, Banim, Daly.

Subs not used: Murphy, Dugdale.

Referee: Mr. Rob Merchant (Staffordshire)

Attendance: 4,331