Monthly Archives: November 2012

A night at the Am Drams

28 Wednesday Nov 2012

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Tuesday 27th November 2012 19.30

Beauty & The Beast

at The New Theatre, Oxford

Performed by Oxford Operatic Society

The New Theatre and I go back a long time, 1980 to be exact, when I appeared in the first of six Gang Shows there. Even then, as a 9 year old I was fascinated at the difference in appearance from the glamorous art-deco front of house and the frankly grotty back-stage, where we were told in no uncertain terms that if you touched the floor you should wash your hands immediately, as there was no lack of rat poison put down there.

I will never forget peering through the glare of the stagelights to spot Mum, Dad, and sister Elizabeth in a packed house during the Saturday matinee, and hearing Dad’s distinctive guffaw during one of Ralph Reader’s jokes. That and the crate of beer that was delivered to the Assistant Producer’s dressing room, conveniently placed on the ground floor….

Times change, and in recent years Mum’s health has begun to fail. Alzheimers and a crumbling hip have restricted both her movement and concentration. Any journey more than a few yards requires a wheelchair and she now finds even a quiz show almost impossible to follow. The doctors have told us to keep her active, but I drove to the theatre with a certain amount of trepidation- what if she got bored? What if the painkillers she takes for her hip wore off early? My unease was not helped when the wheelchair lift to take Mum to the stalls initially wouldn’t work, and when we got to our seats she asked for a painkiller 3 times in 5 minutes.

But when the curtain rose, for two hours she was transfixed. I became aware of her foot tapping along to the songs, and for a brief moment in time, she was the little dynamo back at the Gang Show all those years ago. For that I give thanks.

Sky Fall

25 Sunday Nov 2012

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Saturday 24th November 2012

Ko 10.30

Oxford University Middle Common Room League

WOLFSON/St CROSS P

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE P

Postponed due to a waterlogged pitch (!)

Ko 15.00

League 2

OXFORD UNITED 2 (Constable 14 Pittman 79)

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Platt 76) Carlisle sent off 89 (2nd booking)

Att 6,635 (1,075 away)

Entry S/T

Programme £3 (ic Ox Mail)

Its been a long time since I did a Middle Common Room game. Its a league primarily for post-graduate students, perfect for Wolfson, a purely post-graduate college, and 10.30am kick-off games work well for me, when Oxford United are a home. The trouble is that Wolfson sits on the banks of the River Cherwell, bucolic when its sunny, but flood-prone when it rains. And it’s rained here for most of the week, so I really should have guessed that the pitch wouldn’t be playable, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad!

Still it left me one game to see, unlike many groundhoppers, with games falling to waterlogged pitches all over the country, and my game was a local derby too! The odd thing is that there’s never been any great rivalry between Oxford or Northampton with the former being far more concerned with swindon, and the latter Kettering. Still “Ultimate Support Saturday” did produce a better-than-average gate helped in no small part by the travelling Cobblers fans.

They got a good game too, with the action making up for technical deficiences, and the appalling weather. Oxford United and the supporters know what Ade Akinfenwa gives to the Cobblers, he’s portly but he’s still one hell of a player. Few players at this level have his control and vision, and he was marshalled carefully. Also well known to United is midfielder Chris Hackett, who started his career at Oxford before moves to Hearts and Millwall. He marked his return with a fine game showing both pace, and a glut of well place passes, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one wondering why United didn’t re-sign him in the summer?

But for all of that this was Oxford’s day. Was James Constable offside when he tapped in Alfie Potter’s cross? He looked it, but the linesman’s decision was probably based on a feeling that Potter’s pass was entirely lateral and so Constable was always behind the ball. Either way home fans will point to the woodwork being hit twice, by Jake Forster-Caskey and Sean Rigg’s deflected effort.

As befits any side managed by Aidy Boothroyd, Northampton were well-drilled and a series of corners at the end of the first half tested Ryan Clarke in the home goal, and he did well to get down to Ben Harding’s low shot.

Cliches are cliches for a reason, and one goal was never going to be enough with Oxford’s defensive frailties, and the introduction of the towering figure of Clive Platt after an hour proved to be significant. With Michael Raynes keeping Akinfenwa quiet, he rose above Jake Wright to head Hackett’s cross home. I wondered what that meant for Chris Wilder’s tenure as manager. I didn’t ponder for long as Peter Leven’s ball over the top allowed subsitute Jon-Paul Pittman to run throuugh and he blasted home past Lee Nicholls for his first goal in 10 months, and earning Oxford a first win in 4 matches.

All that remained was the dismissal of Clark Carlisle for his second booking. It made no impact on the game but I wonder if getting sent off is more embarrassing when you’re PFA chairman? The Press Association reported his second booking was for foul and abusive language, but after the game Northampton Town swiftly asked that it be altered to a simple foul. For the record, I saw the 2nd booking as for a foul challenge, and there was no hint of any back-chat. It is worth noting that the PA feed is staffed by former players sourced by, yes, the PFA!

I used the term “Predictably Unpredictable” on a previous piece on Oxford United, and nothing I saw in this highly entertaining game changed my opinion on the club, and in a wider sense the division. I do wonder what chairman Ian Lenagan is thinking though. 18th place does not represent the level of ambition, or expenditure at the club. Some might say a change is needed, but if so who?

Water…everywhere

24 Saturday Nov 2012

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Saturday 24th November 2012 12.00pm

We’ve had a lot of rain in the south of England these last few days, so when I went for a drive to one of my stomping grounds in north Oxford, I decided to bring by camera for the ride.

I didn’t actually reach my destination, but sometimes the journey is more interesting isn’t it? The area around the River Cherwell is notorious for flooding, it’s why during normal weather its something of a green oasis just off the centre of the city. But when there’s significant rain, well the whole look of the place changes….

The Victoria Arms sits in the middle of it all, on top of a peninsula jutting out from Old Marston. That settlement has a split personality, the old village retaining the “Olde Worlde” feel in contrast to suburban New Marston. The pub describes itself as “The Pub by the river,” but today is was more like “The Pub by the lake.” Normally you can punt from the city to here, but not today!

The pub holds a few memories, my mate Dave used to be chef here, and I took Peter and Mao from Osaka here when they visited last February. It really is a lovely quiet spot, and a darned good pub. Yes, it is still open and the road down to it from Old Marston is on high ground!

Good Evans!

22 Thursday Nov 2012

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Tuesday 20th November 2012 ko 19.45

Walsall Senior Cup 2nd Round

STAFFORD TOWN 1 (McMahon 55)

STAFFORD RANGERS 2 (L Reid 33 Kinsella 49)

Att 518

Entry £4

Programme £1

Badge £3

Pasty £1.50

When I was a child Stafford was off-limits, as my Dad did the vast majority of his National Service there, and hated the whole experience. When his time in the forces, was up, in 1955  and he was demobbed, he caught the bus back to Oxford and swore never to return to Stafford. That promise he kept right up to 1982 when the need to catch an early ferry from Heysham to the Isle of Man necessitated an overnight stay, and the most convenient stopping point was Stafford. Even then, we arrived late in the day, and left early the next morning.

Not of course there’s anything wrong with the place, with the ruins of a Gothic revival castle the major landmark since Norman times. More recently the town has become a major railway connection, which attracted major industry to the area. Much of that still exists, particularly in the field of Electrical Engineering. In contrast, Bostik has a factory here. Notable people born in Stafford include actor Neil Morrisey, “Compleat Angler,” author Isaak Walton and comedian Dave Gorman.

Stafford Town were formed in 1976, and Evans Park, named after chairman Gordon Evans is a fine place to have as your first permanent home. Situated around a mile from their more illustrious neighbours, it satisfies their current requirements, playing in the Midland Combination Premier Division, and has the capacity to be adapted, most obviously in the case of the stand, should the club progress. The choice of hedge as a perimeter will mean though that people will be able to watch from outside the ground for a few years yet!

With this being the first time the two clubs have met, there was a friendly buzz about the place, an atmosphere helped by Rangers opting not to take their percentage of the gate, as is their right under competition rules. It was a good game to watch too, with Rangers looking like a side 3 divisions higher, but Town working hard to keep them out. Former Oxford United forward Levi Reid opened the scoring after a fine cross from the left, no doubt annoying his younger brother Ishmale playing for Town!

When Sean Kinsella’s thumping shot double the lead, the tie looked dead and buried, but Rangers stopped the neat passing that had given them the advantage. A swirling free kick was eventually touched in by Paul McMahon. Other than a clever Fabrice Kasiama 35 yard shot that cannoned off the bar, it was all Town. Spencer Gunnell delayed far too long in shooting allowing Christian Dacres to dive across him to block his effort. And that ultimately was the difference between the two sides, that edge in front of goal.

The Art of Engagement

18 Sunday Nov 2012

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I’ve travelled on quite a few underground trains over the years. Firstly, and most frequently in London, with its 1930’s Art Deco feel in the suburbs, gradually being replaced by the jam-packed chaos of anything within the Circle Line. Then there was Tokyo at rush hour, where it was packed. I felt like a red (sunburnt) ant, in a colony of black ants, but the system runs with split-second efficiency. The New York subway, a dangerous place in the movies, has now been cleaned up, but I’m sorry to hear that the one day “Fun Pass” has now been discontinued by MTA.

So many designs for so many cultures, and so many different lines, colours, and even ticketing arrangements. However they all have one thing in common, no-one speaks on them! Maybe its the claustophobic element, you are shut in and underground. My ex-wife hated the London Underground so much I learned London from above ground as well as I learned it from below, years earlier at university. Above ground, the world has more space, and so people have their personal space, and so can engage with each other on their own terms.

There is one exception to this unspoken rule, and that is the Stockholm underground. Here, real effort has been made to give people something to look at, and by osmosis something to talk about. These photos were taken at two adjacent stations, Solna Centrum, and Västra Skogen, and they’re not untypical of any other station on the SL network that’s underground. By the way, if you’re wondering whether the engagement is due to the tunnels being shallow, think again, the escalator at Västra Skogen is the longest in Western Europe!

So what would it take to get people to talk? I’m not convinced sculpture on the tube would make much difference, after all the excellent Poetry on the Tube has being going for years, with the vast majority ignoring its couplets and meter. Perhaps its just the rules of engagement that need altering, starting from tomorrow. The trouble is I drive to work!

Vectis

18 Sunday Nov 2012

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Saturday 17th November 2012 ko 15.00

FA Vase 2nd Round

NEWPORT (IW) 1 (Przepolewski 10)

CADBURY HEATH 0

Att 201

Entry £6

Programme £1.30

Badge £3.50

Tea £1

In my last article I commented that I liked Sweden, at least in part for its wide open spaces. As I sat on the bus leaving the Red Jet ferry terminal at Cowes, I realised one of the reasons why I like the Isle of Wight, is the compact nature of the place. The streets are narrow and winding and there’s no great distance between anywhere. Other than my somewhat contrary nature, that feeling was rather shattered when the bus passed HMP Albany on the outskirts of Newport. The maximum security walls circling the huge facility looked particularly austere on a grey, cold day.

The bus amused me, as the company is called “Southern Vectis.” Vectis is the Roman name for the Isle of Wight, so why do you need to add “Southern?” From the bus station, its a short walk to St George’s Park, and you pass the Morrison’s and Marks & Spencer shops that sit where the football club used to live, until land prices saw a move further away from the town centre, to a purpose-built facility 25 years ago. Now Asda are sniffing around St George’s Park, but the club reckon they’ll move in next door, rather than displace them.

The ground reflects the club’s former Southern League status, with a large main stand and cover on all 4 sides. It’s an impressive home, albeit lacking the quirks and character traits of an older ground. The land was extensively levelled to build the the ground which has created a problem, with the pitch flooding. When there’s rain its a good idea to call ahead, we did, and the club were very good, calling me back with the message that the game was “Definately ON.”

The match was a match-up of the form teams of the Wessex and Western Leagues. I’d watched the Bristolian side at home in the 2010/11 FA Vase. They lost badly to an almost ridiculously strong Spennymoor side, but I remember the day most for a classy article in their programme by former resident Ian Holloway, now manager of Crystal Palace. This was a far more competitive match, although Cadbury Heath will wonder how on earth they managed to fail to at least force a replay.

Alek Przepolewski’s early header was his 18th goal of the season, but was also the end of Newport’s domination of play. Cadbury soon gained the ascendancy with some fine passing and movement, but at the end of it all, the forwards either blazed wide, or forced another good save from Gary Streeter in the home goal. Matt Huxley ballooned a shot over when it looked a good deal easier to score, and Streeter’s acrobatic tip over the bar from Mark Reynolds will live long in the memory.

Even a change of forward line couldn’t change the visitors’ fortunes and its was well before 5 minutes of stoppage time that their heads dropped. There was one last penalty shout, the aftermath of which saw Reynolds booked, but Newport had already one eye on Monday’s draw, as of course will I!

The Masterclass

17 Saturday Nov 2012

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Wednesday 14th November 2012 ko 20.30

Invigningsmatchen

SWEDEN 4 (Ibrahimovic 20 77 84 90)

ENGLAND 2 (Welbeck 35 Caulker 38)

Att 49,467

At Friends Arena, Solna

Entry Comp (face value 700sek)

Programme 20 sek

500ml Beer 50sek

10 krona = 93p

Over the years Sweden has been good to me, I love the wide open spaces, the architecture, but above all else it’s the people that have made it the country I’ve visited more than any other. I’ve watched games at around 50 Swedish grounds and the officials I’ve met have all scratched their heads when they’ve met me, wondering why on earth an Englishmen would be interested in Swedish football! The centre of all of it is my mate Joachim “Kim” Hedwall, of Swedish Radio, who moves around the sports arenas of his country with a cool, quiet authority. If you want to know about Swedish sport, just ask Kim. He really is an expert in his field, or should that be pitch?

That is why I would have been at the first game at Sweden’s new national football stadium, irrespective of the opponents. Since it was England who’d provided the opposition when the Råsunda Stadium opened 75 years ago, and the Swedish FA have a sense of history, I shared my flight from Heathrow to Arlanda with a plane load of England fans and 4 stern, maternal stewardesses, well used to dealing with potentially naughty boys! Their skills weren’t tested, and soon enough most headed for the Arlanda Express for 260 sek one way. Yes, it gets you to central Stockholm in 20 minutes, but there’s a far more interesting way of doing it.

Go to the Pressbyrån in the Sky City part of the airport, and you can buy a 24 hour travelcard for 115sek. That will get you on to the bus to Märsta, and then the Pendeltag, or commuter train which will get you into Stockholm in around 45 minutes. Its slower, but you see a lot more, not the touristy bits but the real Stockholm suburbs and its people , and the train stops at Solna, where both the Råsunda and the Friends Arena are situated. And with the card being a 24 hour one, my 115sek lasted the entire time I was there. I used it to take the T-Bana or metro to Västra Skogen (literally “Western Forest) to meet Kim and dump my overnight bag. Incidentally Västra Skogen T-Bana station features the longest escalator in western Europe, 66 metres with a vertical rise of 33 metres. I’m glad it’s always been working when I’ve visited!

For this game Kim and I were guests of Ricoh Sweden, so we walked to their Solna based HQ, and enjoyed a meal before viewing a presentation on the firm’s new conferencing webcam. A luxury coach was laid on to take us to the ground, around 5km away at the other end of Solna.

The Friends Arena was named by Swedbank who purchased the naming rights. With no lack of Swedish Stadia named after the firm, they opted to name it after a non-profit organization against school bullying that Swedbank supports. It immediately reminded me of the Allianz Arena in Munich with its outside lit up in Swedish yellow and blue, and since AIK will be using the stadium for home games I expect to see yellow and black on a regular basis. It was remarkably easy to get through the turnstiles and a quick frisk, and I had plenty of time to assess my surroundings. The stadium holds 50,000 for sporting events, and 65,000 for concerts. The roof fully closes, and you can see the pitch from the concourses, in the same way you can at stadiumMK. The seating and leg-room is generous, to the extent that the stadium looks a lot bigger than its capacity. The one pitfall was the pitch, grown on the Dutch/German border and only laid 5 days previously. It began to cut up in the warm-up! You would have thought with the roof closed and the temperature controlled at 20c it might have taken root!

With a foot in either camp, I’d hoped for a draw! The main attraction for me was to watch both countries’ world class players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney pit their talents against each other. Rooney cried off injured, and England played a very young side, including six debutants. But whilst England manager Roy Hodgson will have learned far more about his squad than his counterpart Erik Hamrén, who put out a full first XI as befits the occasion, no-one will remember the evening for anything other than the performance of Ibrahimovic.

I’ve heard many Swedish stories of Zlatan. A famous one was when a journalist asked what he’d bought his girlfriend model Helena Seger for her birthday. “Nothing,” he replied, “She already has a Zlatan!” Arrogant, yes, but unlike on other occasions, his performance matched the ego. Its been a long time since I saw a more complete performance from a forward. It’s easy to point out his 4 goals, and the fact that its the first hat-trick scored against England since Marco van Basten’s triple in the 1988 European Championships, but it was his overall game that really caught the eye. He played in the middle of the triangle formed by centre backs Gary Cahill and Steven Caulker, and holding midfielder Leon Osman. When one failed to pick him up, he profited. Cahill, in particular was made to look ordinary in a way he never has been before. Ibrahimovic’s  last goal, a scissor-kick from 30 yards will be talked about for years, a sublime piece of skill. I do wonder whether the fact that it was in stoppage time, and he’d already completed his hat trick, allowed him to try something special? Perhaps I shouldn’t ponder that, and just smile at the impudance!

In the final analysis the result doesn’t matter, and I was pleased for my Swedish hosts who once again showed their country in the best possible light. We eschewed the coach back to Ricoh HQ and walked back to Västra Skogen via the Råsunda Stadium. It has one last hurrah, AIK’s Europa League tie against Napoli on November 22nd, but the cranes parked outside wait for its demolition afterwards. A sad goodbye to the scene of the 1958 World Cup and the emergence of a 17 year old Pelé.

He said goodbye a few weeks ago, I remembered my visit, another Hedwall masterclass, we watched AIK play Djurgården from hospitality, then carried on walking into the night.

Predictably Unpredictable

11 Sunday Nov 2012

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Saturday 10th November 2012 ko 15.00

League 2

OXFORD UNITED 0

TORQUAY UNITED 0

Att 5,773 (259 away)

Entry S/T

Programme £3 (inc Oxford Mail) £3

Now, I’m not a gambling man, the whole bookie experience leaves me cold, but consider if you will the two team’s build-ups to this game. Torquay lost to non-league Harrogate Town in the FA Cup, while Oxford beat Barnet convincingly. During last week Oxford lost at home to Dagenham & Redbridge, while Torquay lost away at…. Barnet. Up on the top deck, before kick-off we considered the likely outcome on a cold afternoon. A few scratched heads, then a grin, and the comment, “Nil-nil it’ll be then!”

Three changes for United, all logical with Alfie Potter still out with a sore hamstring. Johnny Mullins replaced Michael Raynes in central defence, Liam Davis replaced Tony Capaldi at left back, and Simon Heslop was considered a “least worst” option in right midfield than Adam Chapman. The lack of an out-and-out right-winger was an obvious deficiency on Tuesday and while Heslop was a better bet than Chapman, the position continued to look like a square peg in a round hole. For Torquay the principle concern was in goal, regular keeper Michael Poke having a groin strain meant subsitute keeper Martin Rice playing his first game of 2012. That produced an unusual kit-clash, his day glo-orange shirt and shorts being the same colour as that worn by the stadium’s stewards!

The first half was a non-event, Oxford trying their best, but with a lack of conviction where it mattered, in the finishing off of chances. Torquay were more than happy to defend and live off scraps, Billy Bodin’s 20 yard effort being the most memorable, but that should be set against 2 James Constable efforts, one blasted over, the other well saved, and Sean Rigg’s header straight at the keeper.

Things looked worse after the break with Tom Craddock’s sore ribs precluding further participation. The loss of United’s form striker wasn’t keenly felt, as his replacement Jon-Paul Pittman had a fine 45 minutes, stretching the Gulls defence with runs pulling the centre halves out of the channels. United looked far more incisive, but again the final shot wasn’t quite there. Constable fired over, and Rigg had two shots saved, but there was a fright after 50 minutes when Ryan Jarvis headed home for Torquay but the effort was ruled offside.

But the United chances kept coming and kept being missed. Constable did the difficult thing, turning his marker beautifully, but failed with the simpler task, firing over from 10 yards out. There was and is an anxiety about the forward line, the chances get created, but things conspire to see them missed.

Squirrelled away in the warm at the back of the stand was a chap in a club’s coat. My sister didn’t recognise the badge when we spotted him cuddling his tea at half time. I did, the badge was Chesterfield’s and with Oxford playing there next Saturday I doubt if the report he sends back to Derbyshire will contain much that will worry the Spireites. But then what, if anything can you correctly predict at the moment where Oxford United is concerned?

The White Gloves Final

08 Thursday Nov 2012

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Wednesday 7th November 2012 ko 19.00

1872 FA Challenge Cup

ROYAL ENGINEERS 7 (Hubbard 8 Carter 18 Griffiths 20 Cottam 23 45 Ellis 33 Crame 86)

WANDERERS 1 (Flash 66)

Att 2,257*

Entry £10

Programme £2

There are grounds which are routine, there are grounds that are unusual, and just once in a while there are grounds that you drop everything and head over there. The Oval for a football fan is definately one of the latter. It was the site of the very first FA Cup final, in 1872 at the end of a competition in which 15 teams entered, and a full 3 years before the crossbar was introduced. The 2,000 viewing on that day were at the start of something special, 758 clubs entered this season’s competition! This game saw both sides wear similar colours to those in 1872, but playing to todays laws.

I’ve put an asterisk by the attendance, as I reckon around 800 were watching. The figure above is how many tickets were sold, but with the event being a fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, The Haig Housing Trust, and Lambeth Tigers FC, many had opted to simply use the ticket as a means of donating.

The Oval is of course a cricket venue, but unlike its more illustrious London test venue, Lords, has seen other sports regularly played on it. Last week saw an Aussie Rules game, and baseball has been played regularly here. The Wanderers used here as a home in the 19th century and between 1951 and 1962 Corithian-Casuals used the Oval for home fixtures. Apart from a one-off Corinthian-Casuals fixture in 1973 there’s been no more football at the Oval since. That’s a long time to wait between games!

It was a superb night out with the Long Room normally only open to members, displaying the current FA Cup together with the second FA Cup, a replica of the first version, famously stolen, found, then stolen all over again. The second trophy was used from 1896 to 1910, and is the property of West Ham United chairman David Gold, who presented it at the final whistle. It was noticable that all who handled it wore gloves, for obvious reasons!

Whilst in the Long Room I managed to meet a real hero of mine, Stuart Clarke. His work, “The Homes of Football,” is a massive influence on the pictures you see on this blog. His exhibition is now at the National Football Museum in Manchester and I cannot recommend it highly enough. He gets right to the heart of the game in away I’ve not seen any other photographer manage.

In the 1872 final the Wanderers won 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Morton Betts playing under the pseudonym AH Chequer, apparently due to his having played for the Old Harrovians. This was rather ironic given that the roots of The Wanderers lie in former pupils of Harrow School!

Since 1872 the two sides have had differing fortunes. The Wanderers disbanded in 1887, they’d declined rapidly after winning the FA Cup 5 times. Incidentally the reason why if a club wins the FA Cup 3 times in a row, they don’t keep the trophy is due to the Wanderers, as when they completed the feat in 1878 the trophy was returned to the FA on the proviso that no club would ever be able to win it outright. The club was reformed in 2009, and completes in the lowly Surrey South Eastern Combination, a far cry from their all-conquering past. For this game they had a guest manager, Bobby Gould, an FA Cup winner both as a player with West Ham in 1975 (as a non-playing subsitute) , and as a manager with Wimbledon in 1988.

The Royal Engineers have never entered a league; the practicalities of being a regiment on active service making it impossible. Nevertheless the club has maintained a team continously since the famous first final, and continues to be a major force in armed services football, in fact I saw them at Aldershot Military Stadium in January 2012.

https://laurencereade.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/name-rank-and-number/

With the club having been credited with inventing the passing game, rather than simply kicking the ball forward and charging, and some military fitness, a repeat of the 1872 final was never likely to happen. The Engineers had the first half entirely their own way, and ran up 6 unanswered goals, without having to really try.

But a drubbing really wouldn’t be cricket, so the Engineers replaced 7 players at half time, and at the risk of a bad pun- declared! The second half saw the Wanderers cheered on by their followers and many neutrals at least manage to register a goal from Daniel Flash, whose header, er, flashed past Sapper Luke Cairney in the Engineers goal.

That took nothing away from the Engineers victory, but I did feel sorry for one of their organisers Matt Surtees, who would have featured but is on active service. That was food for thought with Remembrance Sunday just round the corner.

Conference Days Revisited

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

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Tuesday 6th November 2012 ko 19.45

League 2

OXFORD UNITED 2 (Craddock 60 65)

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 3 (Williams 36 Howell 54 Wilkinson 62) Maher sent off 70 (2nd booking)

Att 5,074 (77 away)

Entry S/T

Programme £3 (including Oxford Mail)

For Oxford United’s season it’s very much a case of one step forward, then another back. After heartening wins at Wycombe, and Barnet this should have been a routine home win against a side debating whether to play a semi-fit goalkeeper Chris Lewington, or risk his 18-year-old understudy Jordan Seabright. John Still opted for Lewington, and it speaks volumes for Oxford United’s attacking presence that you didn’t realise there was a potential problem.

Where I sit, we have an in-joke that Oxford never score from a corner. Leaving aside James Constable’s goal at Barnet on Saturday (away goals don’t count we decided!) United have developed a real issue with defending set plays, and on this evening in particular, corners. Sam Williams headed home unopposed from the Daggers second corner, and the winner came in a similar fashion, this time it was Luke Wilkinson supplying the header. Add to that Luke Howell’s beating a leaden-footed Michael Raynes to a rebound from the crossbar after the excellent Dwight Gayle’s shot, and you are analysing a game that could, and should have been won. Did Oxford United look any more likely to win when Kevin Maher was sent off for collecting the only two cards issued to the Daggers’ team?

The dichotomy of it all that, is that the best OUFC player Sean Rigg got no goals, but the worst forward, Tom Craddock got two! Still if Craddock can play badly and score twice, I for one will have no issue. It reminds me of a lad at school who used to tell me an Oxford United forward was rubbish because, “All he does is tap the ball in from 2 yards out.” I used to reply, “Yes, around 30 times a season!” The forward’s name? John Aldridge! Those days are long gone, sadly.

On Saturday I watched United dispatch a side in Barnet I thought destined for relegation. Tonight they beat a side, Torquay who have real ambitions for promotion with Gulls manager complaining that player-coach Edgar Davids is getting special treatment! Not a division to stake money on is League 2!

Back in Oxford, this was a Conference game in all but name, and did remind me of OUFC’s stint a divison below. Frantic, and oddly watchable, in a car-crash kind of a way.

You wonder what sort of performance we’ll see when United take on, yes Torquay at Grenoble Road. Either way, this was a highly disappointing night against a club who admit to struggle with the financial and footballing necessities of League football. Oxford United are better than that, aren’t they?