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 Match Report
Oxford United 1 Bury 0
Nationwide League Division 2
Saturday 16th September 2000
Prior to the kick-off of this seemingly straight-forward, third versus bottom clash, it was Denis Smith, the Oxford United manager who was under immense pressure after his side had gone seven games without a win. The U's had picked up just one point since the start of the season and came into this game on the back of a 4-0 reverse. However by the final whistle the home crowd's angry jeers had turned to cheers of delight and relief, and it was Shakers player-manager Andy Preece who was left to pick up the pieces of a second disappointing showing from his team within four days.
Chronically out of form teams have to arrest their decline at some stage, and so it was only a matter of time before United, nailed to the foot of the table, a clear three points adrift and hampered further by a poor goal difference which even now keeps them propping up the rest, woke up to the new season and collected their first maximum. Bury were the unlucky ones then in a way, but the miserable style in which they surrendered their unbeaten away record will hurt the most, rather than the result itself. Yet there will be no signs of panic from Gigg Lane, as Bury are developing a notorious inconsistency which although it may deny them promotion glory come May, means that even results as bad as this do not suggest season-ruining disaster.
What is the case, however, is that a line must be drawn underneath this game and a fresh start made. The period between the start of the season and a warm, relaxed Saturday afternoon in Oxford was enjoyable - a rejuvenated Shakers team delighted their fans with some smooth passing play and soared to joint top of the table - and offered some hope that this could be a fruitful term for the Shakers. Yet the sight of Chris Swailes dragging Derek Lilley to the floor in the last ten minutes of this tie was indicative of so many things, most importantly it seemed to sum up the sad desperation of Bury's performance, the symbolism of a Bury player not being able to keep up with a United counterpart was obvious. Oxford missed the penalty.
Jamie Cook, the United substitute who had entered the action to a chorus of doubting jeers, not aimed at himself but rather at the manager Smith who had removed Manny Omoyinmi in the reshuffle, won the game for United. Catching Bury's defence off guard with a quick free kick, former Shaker Derek Lilley angled a long pass into the path of Cook, who netted the winner at Gigg Lane last season when Oxford triumphed in injury time, before the substituted drifted past Sam Collins and dispatched past Kenny. The Manor Ground expressed its delight, but was slient minutes later when Kenny capped a strong performance with a good penalty save low to his left from Beauchamp.
Bury even had the ball in the net in one of the first half's most exciting moments, as central defender Sam Collins stooped to head Paul Reid's corner past Richard Knight before his joy at seemingly netting only the second goal of his career just a week after the first was cancelled by the linesman's flag - one of numerous such occurences as United chose to play it safe against Adrian Littlejohn who offered little and Dean Crowe who sadly matched his teammate for lack of movement and interest. Littlejohn was even booked for kicking the ball away after another dubious offside decision. Three of the second period's definitive Shakers moves were chanelled through Chris Billy who showed little composure, as did substitute Martyn Forrest when he blasted a volley over the bar from close range.
by Ben Walker
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