Brentford 2, Oxford United 0 IF YOU can't score when golden chances come your way and you then commit elementary defensive mistakes, there's only one outcome - defeat.

And for the third match running, United suffered a two-goal beating.

This, though, was a much-improved defensive display and that it went unrewarded was as much due to Steve Anthrobus's failure to convert a free header eight yards out as it was to any shortcomings at the back.

Brentford struck twice in the second half to stretch their unbeaten run to 26 games.

This Division 2 match took an age to come to life, with little happening in the first half an hour, apart from fussy referee Keith Hill constantly stopping play for petty infringements - many of them caused by Anthrobus.

United's centre forward was booked for continuous foul play in the 17th minute, a challenge on Darren Powell eventually testing the ref's patience once too much.

Anthrobus, who sometimes jumps for the ball with his elbow raised, was spoken to by the referee twice more, and on the second occasion, just before half-time, the official clearly gave him a final warning. So it was somewhat susprising that Anthrobus returned for the second half.

With United adopting a narrower, more compact midfield, closing down well to deny Brentford the space to create, and Mark Watson making an enormous difference on his return to the defence, the visitors were holding on well and looked like getting a point from a goalless draw.

Andre Arendse, although he got only one yard on a punch from Brentford's first corner, and then needed treatment for a head injury when he failed to reach their second, made a fine save to tip over a 20-yard drive by Paul Evans.

Brentford managed only one shot of the first half, Gavin Mahon charging down an attempted clearance by Les Robinson and driving in a 15-yard effort first-time which Arendse saved.

After the break, Watson headed away from just in front of his goalline.

The visitors were clearly looking for a 0-0, and maybe the chance to snatch a goal. And on 58 minutes, Joey Beauchamp cut in threateningly from the right and hit a fierce shot which Andy Woodman not just saved but held. But eight minutes later, United were undone by a slick Brentford opener.

Substitute Derek Bryan skipped inside Paul Powell and struck a glorious 30-yard pass with the outside of his right foot which dissected Robinson and Steve Davis. The pacy Lloyd Owusu, Brentford's top scorer last season, raced on to it, rounded Arendse and tapped into the goal.

In difficult away games when you know you're not going to get many scoring opportunities, you have to bury any good ones.

Matt Murphy failed to do that from the penalty spot at Tranmere and here, in the 75th minute, Anthrobus really should have converted a beautifully-flighted centre from Beauchamp. But his header lacked conviction and Woodman saved with an outstretched hand. After that, United were chasing the game with increasing desperation and became ever more vulnerable to the counter-attack.

And after Arendse had tipped an Owusu volley around his post, the Bees made it 2-0 from the ensuing injury-time corner.

Taken by Mahon, it was attacked by Daren Powell, who climbed above United's centre backs at the far post six yards out, and he headed into the top corner.

Story date: Monday 18 October

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