Aldershot 2 (Hylton 17, Spencer 58), Oxford Utd 0

Oxford United's goal drought continued as they were knocked out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in the first round at the EBB Stadium last night.

After this defeat by fellow League Two side Al,dershot, who are so far unbeaten in the league this seaosn, the U's have now gone four games without a goal.

And at the back they were punished emphatically for errors, the Shots scoring a goal in each half through Danny Hylton and Damian Spencer.

Chris Wilder's men - and it was a much-changed team - could once again count themselves unlucky not to find the net.

They hit the crossbar twice, and Potter's miss early in the match proved pivotal.

Aldershot never really looked back from that moment.

Wilder will be hoping new striker Tom Craddock can lift the team, starting on Saturday.

United's team contained several changes from the weekend draw against Accrington.

Mark Creighton came in for Harry Worley at centre half, Josh Payne, having only signed on loan from Doncaster a few hours earlier, made his debut in mdifeld, and there were chances for Simon Clist, Richie Baker, Alfie Potter and Mitchell Cole.

Last season's top scorer, James Constable, was missing, rested following a foot injury.

And Potter was unfortunate not to score in only the eighth minute.

He nipped in after a mistake by Ben Herd, who was short with a backheader, and Potter beat goalkeeper Jamie Young with his chip, but saw it come back off the bar.

That was something like the fifth time this season that Oxford United have hit the bar.

Ryan Clarke was called into action, making a low save, before the U's went very close again, this time through Baker.

The midfielder curled a free-kick around the Shots' defensive wall but Young was equal to it, turning it around his post.

And when Aldershot took the lead in the 17th minute, the visitors only had themselves to blame.

Left back Anthony Tonkin was sucked into the middle as Aldershot moved the ball forward quickly, and when Wade Small slipped a pass to his right to Danny Hylton, the invitation to shoot was too good to pass up, and he thumped a drive past Clarke.

Tonkin seemed still unsettled by that because Spencer was allowed a lot of space to get around the back again, but his right-wing cross was well cut out by Jake Wright.

Creighton produced a good block to thwart another attack.

Matt Green, much more lively than last Saturday, burst through the middle with a great chance to level, but Young smothered the ball before the striker could take it around him.

United were having plenty of the play as they tried to force their way back into the match, but it was Aldershot who looked the more dangerous.

And just before half-time, Herd again got around the back of the left side of Oxford's defence, and cut it back for Luke Gutteridge to hit on the volley. He hit it sweetly, but Clarke denied him with a super save.

Debutant Payne tried his luck with a low drive, but screwed it wide.

Oxford started the second half in spirited fashion and Green shot past a post, followed by Potter heading two yards wide from Ben Purkiss's right-wing cross.

At the other end, Shots' Gutteridge packed plenty of punch with his shots, and Clarke did well to beat out another of his piledrivers.

The home side were threatening another goal, and it came on 48 minutes. Wright dithered in front of goal, and it proved fatal, Damian Spencer pouncing in an instant to thump the ball home and make it 2-0.

Creighton was unfortunate not to pull one back near the end, toe-poking a shot from Baker's free-kick against the bar.

The woodwork yet again!