Paul Simpson started with three central defenders, Kevin Gray, Lee Andrews and Paul Raven with one lone striker in Richie Foran. There was a hint of damage limitation in his choices, wary of Oxford's unbeaten home record which saw them kick off with a one-point lead at the top of the table. Oxford got off to a flying start inside three minutes as a cross into the box from the right by Dean Whitehead was only half-cleared by Paul Raven and Matt Robinson following up drilled home the loose ball to put the leaders a goal in front. Six minutes in tall striker Julian Alsop was booked for a spot of dissent after fouling Raven. Carlisle's best early move involving Richie Foran and Paul Simpson set up Brendan McGill for a shot that was deflected wide for a corner. United forced two more corners as they tried to get back into the game. Unfortunately the deliveries were poor. Foran set up Simpson for a volley that was on target but brought a comfortable save out of Andy Woodman. United went close when a cross from Kevin Gray found Will McDonagh whose header brought a good save out of Woodman who tipped the ball away for another corner. Raven committed a foul just outside the box and was booked, conceding a free kick in a dangerous spot. Whitehead's wayward effort only found the car park. On 28 minutes an Andrews challenge in the box on Steve Basham was adjudged a foul and a penalty was contentiously awarded. Andy Crosby stepped up and despatched into the top right hand corner to extend the home side's lead. A two-goal advantage flattered the leaders who had created little of note since the opening goal. Paul Arnison went into the book as the referee Tanner seemed to lose his grip totally. Arnison was seemingly adjudged to have thrown the ball away, incorrectly. A Foran free kick on 38 minutes floated over the wall and cleared the cross-bar by about a foot. The game became scrappy near the interval, hardly an advert for third division football. An early tactical substitution saw Kevin Henderson come on for Lee Andrews as Paul Simpson opted for three at the back. A Whitehead corner found a head a few yards out and Glennon somehow saved. McGill then forced a corner for the visitors. The Bulls defence were at sixes and sevens and another corner was the result. United were looking more dangerous as McDonagh and Foran helped set up McGill who fired narrowly over from 20 yards. A Simpson free kick slammed against the Bulls defensive wall. Defender Cowan tried a long range effort but Woodman claimed well. Simpson departed to generous applause on 74 minutes to be replaced by Rundle. Woodman the home keeper was booked for apparently kicking Henderson inside the area and Tanner pointed to the spot. Many United fans thought it should have been a red for violent conduct. Foran stepped up and put it away comfortably. United were back in the game and deservedly so. Alsop headed a corner over the bar. Basham went through and shot wide of the left post. Whitehead forced Glennon into a smart save. The home side had been stung into action as they tried to put the game away. Carlisle got a throw-in and the ball reached Henderson but his shot was easily saved by Woodman. Arnison then put in a cross that found McDonagh who put the ball just inches wide of the right hand post. Basham, having wasted a good chance to sew up the points, went off to be replaced by Jefferson Louis. The officials added on three minutes when more seemed justified given the constant stoppages in the second half. Not enough time in the end to grab an equaliser against an off-form home side. Al's verdict: A result that follows form and once again shows up our desperate need for a goalscorer. Granted Foran finally broke his long drought with a late penalty but not for the first time this season, it was too little too late. Oxford never outplayed us and it was predictable that an Ian Atkins side would do just enough to get the three points, something Atkins is a past master at. It seems amazing that we produce our best against the top sides and have been unremittingly atrocious against the teams at the bottom. We could have been playing against 10 men for the final 15 minutes but another poor referee gave us nothing, or almost nothing. The search for a striker goes on, as much for next season as this. Without a regular scorer, Conference football will be just as tough going. |
