Joey Beauchamp proved he's back in business with two brilliant goals at Walsall last night to end Oxford United's barren scoring run in the league but they still couldn't hang on to earn their first point, writes Jon Murray.

He scored after a 30-yard run and shot and then from a 20-yard free-kick, yet bottom-of-the-table United eventually caved in to relentless pressure from the second division leaders and lost 3-2.

The U's had twice taken the lead but were eventually sunk by a goal eight minutes from time from Walsall's former Everton striker Brett Angell, who had come on as a substitute.

"I feel very disappointed," said United boss Denis Smith, who shrugged off flu symptoms to be at the match. He was seething at the performances of the match officials whom he accused of greatly favouring the home side.

"We had two injuries, to Paul Powell and Dean Whitehead, which changed the shape of our team, and we carried on battling.

"And we had an official who, for the first time in 18 years, I'll be putting in a report about. There were numerous things . . . for a start, Walsall were allowed to kick us and we weren't allowed to get anywhere near them.

"It was poor marking for Walsall's third goal. Wherever he plays, Brett Angell comes on and scores goals, and it shows what a good side they are if they can have Angell on the bench."

It was Beauchamp's omission from the team last Saturday which led to some angry comments directed at Smith from disgruntled fans.

The U's boss had responded that the player was injured, but he was back in from the start last night and struck his stunning individual first goal in just three minutes.

"Now I'm back in the team I'm not going to give up the place very easily," Beauchamp said. "The dressing room's a bit down, we battled hard for nothing.

"They had a lot of chances but when you work so hard and are in the game for so long, and you're in the lead twice, it's gutting not to get anything out of it."