Scunthorpe Utd 1, Oxford Utd 0

By JON MURRAY UNITED'S dismal October continued with a fourth successive defeat as they crashed to an 89th-minute goal at Glanford Park last night.

Not so long ago, the idea of Oxford United losing to Scunthorpe United would have been treated with derision on the London Road terraces.

But the sad fact is that, not only were Brian Laws's team above the U's before this Division 2 game started, but they then proceded to outplay them.

Oxford's management and players had ample warning where the main threat lay - in the form of powerful Cameroon forward Guy Ipoua, who has become a cult figure at the north Lincolnshire club with his ability to turn defenders and run, scaring the living daylights out of many opponents.

But they couldn't handle Ipoua. After Andre Arendse had come to their rescue with three spellbinding saves in the second half, Ipoua took a pass from Clint Marcelle, turned Steve Davis to gain a couple of yards to his right, and then powered in a shot which Arendse got a hand to but couldn't keep out. Scunthorpe deserved victory for their second-half play, but before the break Oxford were in control and should have gone in front.

Under-pressure manager Malcolm Shotton boldly decided on a 4-4-2 formation that saw Jamie Lambert and Joey Beauchamp getting forward and firing over early crosses.

And his positive policy was rewarded by United creating some good chances.

The first two fell to Derek Lilley, who stretched out his left leg and directed his first errort just past a post.

The second opportunity nine minutes later was much better, Lilley's left-footed drive flashing a foot past Lionel Perez's far post, with the on-loan Newcastle goalkeeper struggling to reach it.

A little tentative at the start, United soon began to assert their superiority and it was only bad luck that denied them a goal on the half-hour.

Paul Tait did well to work a crossing opportunity for Beauchamp. His inswinging centre was met by Mark Watson who headed past Perez but against the underside of the bar. It came back to Watson eight yards out but this time he couldn't get enough power on the follow-up effort and Perez regained his composure to save.

Oxford started to give the ball away with increasing frequency and in the second half Scunthorpe stepped up a couple of gears.

Arendse beat out a long-range free-kick from Andrew Dawson after a foul by Davis on Lee Hodges.

Marcelle almost sneaked in to score and had a goal ruled out for offside, before Arendse saved superbly at his near post from Ipoua after Les Robinson fell over.

The keeper continued to keep the visitors in the game, making a fabulous save from Paul Harsley, and then somehow turning over a powerful header from Chris Hope at a free-kick.

With United encamped in their own half, Arendse came to the rescue again, this time with his foot, and Harsley, bursting forward from midfield, headed over a fine chance.

Oxford looked to have escaped with a draw, but with the seconds ticking away, Ipoua turned Davis and shot home from 12 yards to make it a long, unhappy journey home for the United players and their increasingly disgruntled fans.

Story date: Wednesday 20 October

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