Oxford Utd 0, Luton Tn 1

By JON MURRAY SHOT-SHY United crashed to their fifth defeat in a row after an early Luton Town goal wrecked what little self-belief they had.

For a team which, when play began, had gone nearly six-and-a-half hours since finding the net, the last thing Oxford needed was to fall behind early on and have to chase the game.

So, from the moment Liam George side-footed home a simple third-minute-goal to put the Hatters in front, Malcolm Shotton's side were once again up against it.

After the way they had been playing, no-one, apart from Mark Watson, was sure of a place and it came as no surprise that the manager decided to drop Steve Anthrobus, his centre forward who hadn't scored since the opening day of the season.

Youth team coach Mickey Lewis was recalled for a specific role, to play just in front of centre backs Steve Davis and Watson to track the dangerous George, who operated just behind the Luton strikers.

It was therefore a blow to Lewis as well as to the team that George was free to tap in from four yards before some spectators had settled into their seats. Lewis showed his strong character by recovering to perform very well for the rest of the match, displaying his customary fire and determination, and surprising one or two with his range of passing.

United's problems, though, are at the other end, as everyone knows - Luton included.

After a couple of scares, they decided to bring players back to hang on to what they had and complete a rare1-0 win for their first clean sheet in ten games and their first league double of the season.

Joey Beauchamp was unlucky with a full-blooded drive which smacked against a post, then struck a defender and ricocheted out for a corner in the 13th minute after a Peter Fear corner was not properly cleared.

Understandably, following their goal drought, United's players felt unsure what to do in and around the box, but there was one smart move involving Paul Powell and Matt Murphy which ended with Beauchamp shooting wide.

Good defending by Watson prevented Neil Midgley extending Luton's lead and the first half ended with Beauchamp, the only Oxford player with enough confidence to give it a go and shoot, trying his luck from 30 yards.

Goalkeeper Nathan Abbey fumbled the effort, although it shouldn't have been a difficult save. Shotton appeared unhappy with the efforts of Powell, who had looked lethargic and out of sorts in the first half, because he replaced him with Neil McGowan during the interval.

The second half began with a spectacularly bright rainbow over Headington, visible to everyone looking towards the Osler Road side of the ground. But there was to be no pot of gold at the end of it for the sorry U's.

With passes going astray and mistakes coming at regular intervals, they looked a poor side.

Paul Tait gave the ball away to allow Douglas to fire in a firm, low shot but Andre Arendse saved well.

Shotton took off Lilley and Matt Murphy on the hour and the crowd booed the decision to take off Murphy, the only one who looked to be trying really hard.

But replacements Anthrobus and James Lambert did make a difference, Anthrobus's aerial power causing Luton some problems and Lambert getting in a succession of quality crosses. Great play by Lambert in the 74th minute should have brought an equaliser but Anthrobus couldn't get on top of his header and directed it over the bar.

Two great defensive challenges by Lewis prevented Luton piling on the agony for Oxford and in injury time, Arendse made a superb save at full stretch from Matthew Spring.

Story date: Monday 25 October

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