Match Report | Oxford United

It was a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' tonight as United failed to capitalise on Saturday's good win over Altrincham by slipping to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Weymouth. A sloppy goal conceded at a first half corner was The U's undoing against a resilient Terras side who can be very pleased with their night's work.

With just the one change to the team that beat Altrincham, Barry Quinn replacing Michael Corcoran in defence, United had an early scare as keeper Billy Turley needed to save bravely from Wilfried Domoraud in the very first minute. That signaled Weymouth's intent with French striker Domoraud, formerly of Nancy and now on loan from Yeovil looking lively.

United hadn't conceded a goal at home in the league since October and the ever reliable defence were dealing with the former Nancy boy well, but they were statuesque on 16 minutes as Terras centre half Scott Doe met a free kick from the left and headed against the bar.

Any thoughts that it might be a bit of a nice stroll on a mild January evening were thus dispelled, but United weren't hitting their stride despite magnificent backing from the fans (the left side just about edged it, singing fans).

Craig McAllister, building on an excellent debut, had the first real effort for the U's after 20 minutes, linking up well with strike partner Rob Duffy and thumping his volley over the bar from twenty yards, but two more Weymouth efforts went too close for comfort in the next two minutes and United were constantly on the back foot throughout the opening half of the match.

It got worse on 29 minutes as McAllister was fouled and went to ground, and was quickly substituted. McAllister did manage to hobble off but the signal to make the change was immediate and United will hope his hamstring injury is not as serious as it looked at the time. Carl Pettefer's introduction also meant a change to 4-3-3 with Odubade and Ledgister alongside Duffy.

It almost brought a goal as well when Alex Jeannin rattled the crossbar from twenty yards with a left footed free kick but then on 38 minutes Weymouth found a way to breakdown the United back line. Controversially ref Andy Hendley awarded a corner as Adam Murray tackled back, a decision which most of the ground thought should have been a goal kick. As is so often the way the decision proved vital as James Coutts drilled in the corner, Doe smacked it against the bar, and Gavin McCallum knocked home the loose ball from two yards with Turley and his defenders doing their damndest but failing to keep the ball out at the base of the left hand post.

Slightly stunned, United fought back and saw Murray fire over from 25 yards on 43, but in truth they had failed to match their exploits of Saturday and had left themselves an unnecessarily hard amount of work to do in the second half.

They were still labouring in the opening stages of the second half, prompting Patterson to try Alex Fisher as an option in place of Ledgister and James Clarke instead of the frustrated Matt Day in the hope that the two home grown players could get things moving. The problem was that Weymouth, ravaged by injuries and out of form in the run up to the game, were seeing a notable victory coming ever closer and growing in confidence going forwards while becoming increasingly stubborn at the back.

Clarke surged forward and combined with Fisher on 75 in a move which ended with Fisher firing wide from fifteen yards with his left foot, and at last there was some urgency from a hitherto sluggish United. The injury to McAllister certainly hadn't helped but gradually United started to gather some steam and force Weymouth back, and the question became whether they would equalise or if the Terras could hold out in a rearguard action. Sadly it wasn't to be, despite Turley coming up for a last minute corner.

Frustratiion grew, faded, and just as every schoolkid in the country had to face up to the reality of school yesterday after Christmas so United were back to the drawing board with the smiles wiped from their faces.