Chesterfield 0, Oxford Utd 0

By John Murray A SOLID defensive display brought United a point against bottom club Chesterfield at Saltergate on Saturday and ensured that Mickey Lewis went through November unbeaten in the league.

On an afternoon of perspiration rather than inspiration, the teams largely cancelled each other out in a dour game which proved a poor spectacle for the crowd of just over 2,700.

But although United's players came off the pitch at the final whistle very disappointed that they hadn't chalked up a third successive away league win, a point was of much more use to Oxford than to Chesterfield, who need to start winning their home games if they are to stay in Division 2.

John Duncan's side, desperate to break a run of five straight defeats, were as lacking in confidence as United were six weeks ago, and they offered little attacking threat.

The U's three-man central defence of Steve Davis, Mark Watson and Phil Whelan kept them in check throughout, with Les Robinson adding his defensive experience just in front of them. Chesterfield, unable to create much from open play, were at their most threatening from long throw-ins and set-pieces, but they failed to muster a shot on goal until Junior Agogo fired in a low shot a minute before the break, which Paul Lundin saved with his foot.

A storming run along the right flank by Joey Beauchamp brought United their only real scoring chance of the opening 45 minutes. He cut the ball back well, but Matt Murphy was leaning back as he ran in to meet it, and shot not only over the bar but over the main stand as well.

Rob Folland also managed a low left-foot drive after a smart lay-off from Murphy, but it deflected for a corner.

In the second half, the game thankfully opened up a bit and the visitors made a strong start to it.

Davis got forward to direct a header goalwards two minutes into the second half when a long free-kick from Beauchamp was nodded back into the danger area by Derek Lilley. Moments later, Beauchamp smacked in a cracking 20-yard shot, with very little backlift, that goalkeeper Mark Gayle was unable to hold. Fortunately for Gayle, one of his defenders was on hand to hack the ball to safety before Lilley could pounce on the rebound.

Twice more, Beauchamp hit great long-range shots.

In the 55th minute, he showed his class by bursting past three Chesterfield players, got the ball back on to his left foot and then sent in a powerful, curling drive which again greatly troubled the keeper.

And just before the end, Beauchamp was even further out, almost 30 yards, when he got everything behind a drive. It must have stung Gayle's fingers, but he recovered just in time.

Chesterfield struggled to put together meaningful moves but near the hour mark, Mark Galloway struck a shot on the turn in a crowded box which Lundin saved.

Then Lundin needed to be alert to come off his line and save close to his near post when Jonathan Howard broke free on the left. Boss Lewis made several changes towards the end, replacing Neil McGowan with Peter Fear when McGowan picked up a groin injury, and Lilley with Steve Anthrobus for the last 12 minutes.

In injury time, United almost snatched victory when Fear got in a firm header from a right-wing cross by Murphy, but Gayle got down well to save.

It was another useful point for United, but the players left the field disappointed that they hadn't been able to make the superiority count.

Story date: Monday 29 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.