Torquay United 1 (Downes 58) Oxford United 3 (Constable 50, Batt pen 54, Heslop 90+4) (From The Oxford Times)
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Torquay United 1 (Downes 58) Oxford United 3 (Constable 50, Batt pen 54, Heslop 90+4)
4:59pm Saturday 9th March 2013 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
OXFORD United bounced back from their heavy midweek defeat to beat struggling Torquay United.
The visitors wasted three superb chances before the break, but made amends with two quick goals early in the second half.
James Constable, who had been guilty of two misses, took advantage of another opening to make it 1-0, before Damian Batt scored from the penalty spot.
Aaron Downes pulled a goal back for the hosts, but United held on and added a flourish to the score when substitute Simon Heslop scored with the final kick of the game.
There were four changes to United's XI in the wake of Tuesday's 4-0 defeat to Rotherham United.
Luke O'Brien replaced Liam Davis (illness), while a tight hamstring saw Deane Smalley drop to the bench, replaced by Constable.
Scott Davies came in for his first start and Tony Capaldi returned, with Heslop and Michael Duberry missing out as the U's reverted back to a 4-4-2 system.
That line-up lasted just eight minutes, before the visitors were forced into a change.
Capaldi went down unchallenged with what looked like a back injury, so Josh Parker was given an early chance to make an impact.
United had the best opening of an underwhelming first half hour, when Michael Raynes nodded wide from a Davies corner on 11 minutes.
The game was beginning to disintegrate into a scrappy affair, before it suddenly caught light in the final 15 minutes of the half.
United created three superb chances in the space of eight minutes, but crucially could not take any of them.
The first came from an aerial ball from Jake Wright which Brain Saah misjudged. Alfie Potter held off Downes, allowing Constable to burst through on goal.
The striker's shot was firm, but too close to Gulls goalkeeper Michael Poke, who parried.
The front two combined again shortly afterwards.
Potter did well to send Constable away and although he had more time than in his first opportunity the finish was less convincing, blasted straight at a relieved Poke.
A minute later the roles were reversed to send Potter away.
It was a similar chance to the one he took so well at Gillingham last month, but this time when the winger drew the goalkeeper he made a mess of his shot, which ended up near the corner flag.
United should have been out of sight, but they needed a smart save from Luke McCormick to keep them on level terms at the break.
On the eve of half-time the visitors' defence was scythed open by a one-two between Ryan Jarvis and Rene Howe, but the former's shot was well kept out by the goalkeeper.
The visitors regrouped at the interval and seized control of the game after the restart.
Constable shrugged off the memory of the earlier misses to open the scoring five minutes into the second half.
A long ball from O'Brien was not dealt with by Downes and the striker raced through, rounding Poke to slot into an empty net.
Constable was heavily involved in United's second goal.
He did not give up on a lost cause and robbed a dawdling Downes, who then pulled Constable back in the box.
Batt assumed penalty duties and buried the ball into the corner from 12 yards to put the U's in control.
But the two-goal cushion lasted just four minutes, as Torquay hit back.
Joss Labadie's free-kick was tipped over by McCormick and from the resulting corner Downes steered a header into the far corner.
The goal rush nearly continued as Torquay went in search of a quick equaliser. A ball across the penalty area fell invitingly to Lee Mansell, whose shot was well blocked by Batt.
Gradually the visitors regained their composure at the back and came back into the game.
Smalley came off the bench and was quickly involved in a move which saw Andy Whing slip a pass for Constable to shave the post with a left-footed shot.
A poor Gulls back four allowed further chances to make it 3-1 in the final ten minutes.
Parker fired narrowly over after Raynes had a shot blocked at a corner, while Davies missed the target from long range.
Torquay pushed forward late in and on 88 minutes they had a clear opportunity.
Batt got caught under a cross to give Howe an opening at the back post, but his shot was straight at McCormick.
There was still time for some nervous moments to survive before a fantastic finale, when Heslop lashed a shot in with the final kick of the game.
Oxford Utd: McCormick, Batt, Raynes, Wright, O'Brien, Davies (Heslop 90), Whing, Capaldi (Parker 8), Rigg (Smalley 74), Potter, Constable.
Unused subs: Crocombe, Worley, Craddock, Duberry.
Torquay Utd: Poke, Oastler, Downes, Saah, Nicholson, Jarvis (Macklin 65), Mansell, Labadie (Stevens 90), Bodin, Howe, Benyon.
Unused subs: Rice, Lathrope, MacDonald, Craig, Cruise.
Referee: Stephen Martin.
Attendance: 2,504 (379 visitors).
Comments(43)
oldun
says...
5:08pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Richard Wickson
says...
5:08pm Sat 9 Mar 13
35 year fan
says...
5:19pm Sat 9 Mar 13
a good run now would be important for the chairmans pocket and that will help the new manager. i just dont see him sticking with CW, he's losing plenty of money as it is.
Magiltonmagic.
says...
5:33pm Sat 9 Mar 13
foxvox
says...
5:38pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun
says...
5:42pm Sat 9 Mar 13
BigAlBiker wrote:Hear , hear!
Great win away from home again, they seem to have the ability to perform outside Oxford, bit like a guy being adulterous, shame we could not keep Adam Chapman who scored a hat trick for Mansfield today, oh and Matt Green got the other one, ahhhh I remember, it was this donkey Wilder who let them go.
Even though this was a fantastic win for the mighty yellows I still call for the Taxi for Wlder.
oldun
says...
5:44pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:We usually do much worse when he STARTS !! Thought you might be the fan of donkey Heslop
Why oh why did CW bring on Heslop? We always lose when he plays!..... Oh hang on
YellowLAD
says...
5:50pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun
says...
5:54pm Sat 9 Mar 13
YellowLAD wrote:Agreed . If we go up (COYY) then I would not expect CW to last beyond October - and then we move forward. If we lose in the playoffs (even the Final) then CW must go, COYY - we can be in the third div next season - very very slim chance - the porky female has not even learned the words!
Get up this season Oldun? With this squad we would be relegated by Christmas. 35 year fan I sincerely hope Mr Lenagan bites the bullet and pays off Wilder this summer.
learned
says...
5:59pm Sat 9 Mar 13
He bemoans the fact earlier in the season when Craddock was injured that hes missed and now when hes fit, he doesn't play him at all !!
What is it with Wilder and falling out with players....
Too many examples over the last couple of seasons....Midson another example..
Magiltonmagic.
says...
6:28pm Sat 9 Mar 13
YellowRose
says...
6:33pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun
says...
6:34pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Calm down , calm down, dear! Who dis say that was his fault when we lose? ?? It ain't me babe, no, no, no - , it ain't me babe - it ain't me you're looking for babe!! Moron? - that's a new description for me - certainly in football circles! Cam down, dear
oldun,not a fan of heslop but even less of a fan of moronic statements of when he plays and we lose it's his fault it's a team game for crying out loud! Anyway a great result today for the team and the brilliant 379 travelling fans.
oldun
says...
6:39pm Sat 9 Mar 13
YellowRose wrote:Yep - I remember seeing donkey Roberto Baggio missing a penalty in a world cup final, too . Good strikers never miss sitters
Same old negative comments after a FAN-TASTIC WIN!! Anyone see Midson the part-timer miss a sitter last week?!
Magiltonmagic.
says...
6:41pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun
says...
7:06pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Is that your very best shot? What's the problem Being bullied by your bosses ? Short of cash? Fat? Ugly? Ill equipped? No mates? All of those?
Senile as well as old ;-) enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Chish and Fips
says...
7:20pm Sat 9 Mar 13
You are in spitting distance of the play-offs - 'til your next home game that is ..... we can't seem to win at home either .. just keep drawing... ho hum..
YellowLAD
says...
7:29pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Chish and Fips wrote:A little more than spitting distance sir! The problem is despite today's win, playing in similar formation to the Gillingham and Port Vale wins I might add, we have a manager who has a burning desire to tinker so god only knows how we will line on Tuesday night 2-4-1-3 wouldn't surprise me with this guy! That being said, if we played you lot tomorrow I'd STILL fancy us to win, again.
There's no pleasing you lot - bickering amongst yourselves now....
You are in spitting distance of the play-offs - 'til your next home game that is ..... we can't seem to win at home either .. just keep drawing... ho hum..
Chish and Fips
says...
7:45pm Sat 9 Mar 13
dorsetyellows
says...
8:53pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Coyyellows
says...
9:51pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun
says...
6:06am Sun 10 Mar 13
Chish and Fips
says...
6:44am Sun 10 Mar 13
oldun
says...
6:58am Sun 10 Mar 13
Chish and Fips wrote:Trying to wind me up - but singularly failing to do so
Oldun sorry to see they are winding you up with the personal comments. You have probably been more postive than most of them put together on here, trying to make the most of a not very good season, and a manager who seems a bit stale now.
I enjoy folk trying to bully me (as long as it doesn't get 'physical' says this 10 stones weedy old grandfather) . United have had so many 'not very good seasons' - hardly any even good ones since Matt E and Joey were with us . Second (not going up) and third (going up) in the Conference for many were highlights (they are long suffering and loyal) . From 1959 - 1999 , for me only a few seasons at the end of the 70s were worse - even 98-99 saw us in what is now bizarrely called the Championship . Reading have left us way behind - and you are many many places above us
adlibber
says...
8:07am Sun 10 Mar 13
Overall I'm pleased with the win and the fact that the players have decided to ignore me for the rest of the season and just get on with it. I'm feeling particularly proud of my judgement of players I've let go given how poorly they fared at their new clubs. Chapman only got 3 yesterday. Now I'm going home to a hot bath and my book of post match clichés which is falling apart at the seams because I refer to it so much. Over the moon with this mighty victory against Turquoise. I'm brilliant me'
Chris 'The chosen bun' Wilder
adlibber
says...
8:30am Sun 10 Mar 13
oldun wrote:Oldun I'd take CoyYellows as seriously as Wilder's post match comments - both are vacuous meaningless and delusional. I'd rather have your more informed insight than the clowns that somehow still think Wilder is the man for this club.
Chish and Fips wrote:Trying to wind me up - but singularly failing to do so
Oldun sorry to see they are winding you up with the personal comments. You have probably been more postive than most of them put together on here, trying to make the most of a not very good season, and a manager who seems a bit stale now.
I enjoy folk trying to bully me (as long as it doesn't get 'physical' says this 10 stones weedy old grandfather) . United have had so many 'not very good seasons' - hardly any even good ones since Matt E and Joey were with us . Second (not going up) and third (going up) in the Conference for many were highlights (they are long suffering and loyal) . From 1959 - 1999 , for me only a few seasons at the end of the 70s were worse - even 98-99 saw us in what is now bizarrely called the Championship . Reading have left us way behind - and you are many many places above us
Keep up the good work.
A Scroat
says...
9:20am Sun 10 Mar 13
adlibber wrote:Well done. Brilliant insight, you cheered me up.
'it was a great win for us because Torquay are a quality side full of international players and they're on a great run of 9 defeats from 10 which shows their consistency. It's been a tough week having lost to a championship side at home in midweek who I notice lost to Dagenham yesterday which is no surprise because Dagenham played alongside Redbridge spreading 11 across the back 6 strikers 3 full backs and 2 goalkeepers all of whom are premiership quality players.
Overall I'm pleased with the win and the fact that the players have decided to ignore me for the rest of the season and just get on with it. I'm feeling particularly proud of my judgement of players I've let go given how poorly they fared at their new clubs. Chapman only got 3 yesterday. Now I'm going home to a hot bath and my book of post match clichés which is falling apart at the seams because I refer to it so much. Over the moon with this mighty victory against Turquoise. I'm brilliant me'
Chris 'The chosen bun' Wilder
bigchet
says...
10:04am Sun 10 Mar 13
chrishay123
says...
10:07am Sun 10 Mar 13
chrishay123
says...
10:13am Sun 10 Mar 13
chrishay123 wrote:Great visit to Torquay
Great visit to Oxford yesterday. Great humour from a few on the terraces. Great win for us. Bring on Barnet.
oldun
says...
10:31am Sun 10 Mar 13
bigchet wrote:I support the club - you and I will be with the Us long long after CW and his players have left. CW - for me, four out of ten - bet he didn't think that he would be here for over 4 years (long for management) - he knew and knows the score
although i have reservations about cw as manager i do feel he is in a no win situation with some posters , when we lose he is entirely to blame and when we win it is in spite of him. give the man a bit of credit sometimes im sure he would acknowledge he has made mistakes but he is not wrong all the time as some would suggest. its well known that we are all experts in football management and could run the england team much better than roy hodgson but we are never put to the test to be proved right or wrong. at the end of the season we will know whether cw should stay or go so we should stick with it for now. we have a game on tue that i feel will be a toughfie so lets give the team our full support.
, I will continue when I see appropriate to criticise or praise him and his players. Nine points out of 12 - very well done - many more than I thought would materialise
oldun
says...
10:31am Sun 10 Mar 13
bigchet wrote:I support the club - you and I will be with the Us long long after CW and his players have left. CW - for me, four out of ten - bet he didn't think that he would be here for over 4 years (long for management) - he knew and knows the score
although i have reservations about cw as manager i do feel he is in a no win situation with some posters , when we lose he is entirely to blame and when we win it is in spite of him. give the man a bit of credit sometimes im sure he would acknowledge he has made mistakes but he is not wrong all the time as some would suggest. its well known that we are all experts in football management and could run the england team much better than roy hodgson but we are never put to the test to be proved right or wrong. at the end of the season we will know whether cw should stay or go so we should stick with it for now. we have a game on tue that i feel will be a toughfie so lets give the team our full support.
, I will continue when I see appropriate to criticise or praise him and his players. Nine points out of 12 - very well done - many more than I thought would materialise
adlibber
says...
12:28pm Sun 10 Mar 13
bigchet wrote:Maybe if CW showed a bit more humility rather than relentlessly blaming the weather,pitch,opposi
although i have reservations about cw as manager i do feel he is in a no win situation with some posters , when we lose he is entirely to blame and when we win it is in spite of him. give the man a bit of credit sometimes im sure he would acknowledge he has made mistakes but he is not wrong all the time as some would suggest. its well known that we are all experts in football management and could run the england team much better than roy hodgson but we are never put to the test to be proved right or wrong. at the end of the season we will know whether cw should stay or go so we should stick with it for now. we have a game on tue that i feel will be a toughfie so lets give the team our full support.
tion,referees,player
s he signed, etc etc he might earn a bit more respect from the likes of me. Wilder is in the position his tactical naivety has put him in. Players he lets go seem to flourish very quickly elsewhere.He sees critical fans as the enemy rather than accept he deserves criticism for another failed season (I don't expect us to go up this season even if we reach play offs). He has no plan B and his farcical tinkering for Rotherham game exposed his lack of insight into what it takes to be consistent especially when you've just beaten the top two teams. I'll still support the club long after Wilder has gone but I've given up the long trips to home games this season because I just don't trust Wilder to produce many worthy performances from a team that should be doing far better giving the remarkably loyal fans the success such support deserves.
Wilder is petulant, immature and full of his own importance yet his CV lists what? one promotion via play offs and 3 years of mediocrity? Barnet survive on 2k gates and attract Edgar Davids, (who is rescuing Barnet from the dead) we can get 12k in lowest league with a bit of success and we have Wilder. He's had plenty of time to right his mistakes but he's spent last three years repeating them and pointing the finger away from himself.
I'm no expert on football matters but I can see a manager who's brave enough to recognise his weaknesses and act to eradicate them - Wilder is not that manager.
foxvox
says...
4:55pm Sun 10 Mar 13
adlibber wrote:Excellent!
bigchet wrote:Maybe if CW showed a bit more humility rather than relentlessly blaming the weather,pitch,opposi
although i have reservations about cw as manager i do feel he is in a no win situation with some posters , when we lose he is entirely to blame and when we win it is in spite of him. give the man a bit of credit sometimes im sure he would acknowledge he has made mistakes but he is not wrong all the time as some would suggest. its well known that we are all experts in football management and could run the england team much better than roy hodgson but we are never put to the test to be proved right or wrong. at the end of the season we will know whether cw should stay or go so we should stick with it for now. we have a game on tue that i feel will be a toughfie so lets give the team our full support.
tion,referees,player
s he signed, etc etc he might earn a bit more respect from the likes of me. Wilder is in the position his tactical naivety has put him in. Players he lets go seem to flourish very quickly elsewhere.He sees critical fans as the enemy rather than accept he deserves criticism for another failed season (I don't expect us to go up this season even if we reach play offs). He has no plan B and his farcical tinkering for Rotherham game exposed his lack of insight into what it takes to be consistent especially when you've just beaten the top two teams. I'll still support the club long after Wilder has gone but I've given up the long trips to home games this season because I just don't trust Wilder to produce many worthy performances from a team that should be doing far better giving the remarkably loyal fans the success such support deserves.
Wilder is petulant, immature and full of his own importance yet his CV lists what? one promotion via play offs and 3 years of mediocrity? Barnet survive on 2k gates and attract Edgar Davids, (who is rescuing Barnet from the dead) we can get 12k in lowest league with a bit of success and we have Wilder. He's had plenty of time to right his mistakes but he's spent last three years repeating them and pointing the finger away from himself.
I'm no expert on football matters but I can see a manager who's brave enough to recognise his weaknesses and act to eradicate them - Wilder is not that manager.
Southstandupper
says...
5:24pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Southstandupper
says...
5:39pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Chish and Fips
says...
5:40pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Southstandupper wrote:Sorry to disappoint SSU but he's a Poxford supporter - and he's entitled to voice his opinion as much as you are.
Great to see BigAlBiker is still not happy. I think he has never seen a game in his life. Maybe a scumdon supporter in disguise. Big Al you are not a true fan all you want is Wilder out. All I can say is put your money (if you have any) where your mouth is, buy the club put your own manager in etc then you take the flack. If you have no money shut up and keep your negative comments to yourself. OUFC needs real SUPPORTERS who will follow the team no matter what not those who only wish to moan and groan, by the way Big AL are you Fergie in Disguise? You seem to have the same thoughts!!!!
Rather ridiculous post I might add by your good self about buying the club etc..
Southstandupper
says...
8:22am Mon 11 Mar 13
oldun
says...
8:28am Mon 11 Mar 13
Southstandupper wrote:"Do something about it." Other than attend matches, cheer and criticise , What can a supporter on modest income (nearly all of us) do ?
Ok Chish and Fips but my point is rather than moaning and groaning all the time even when we have a good result do something about it rather than bleat on all the time about the same things. We need supporters who support the club. The only way Big Al Biker will get his way is to buy the club, appoint who he wants and see how things go. IL will do what he wants when he wants and I still believe he has the best interests of the club at heart. To all the fair weather supporters, if we have 12k gates regularly from true supporters we would have more money avialable and we would have better players and possibly Manager, and a better chance to buy the stadium, however the stay away fans mean we don't have the money or opportunity to move from our present situation. No money to buy out contracts etc so we are stuck with what we have. At the end of the day being realistic is it better to have a mid table team in the football league or no team at all?
BigAlBiker
says...
10:25am Mon 11 Mar 13
Southstandupper wrote:Excuse me young man, goodness gracious me, i indeed am a south stand upper season ticket holder of some years i may say, and yes i have missed two matches in the last four years to holidays, even going to the reserve team (when we had one) games at Didcot, i remember one time there the grand total of Oxford supporters was 74, were you there?
Great to see BigAlBiker is still not happy. I think he has never seen a game in his life. Maybe a scumdon supporter in disguise. Big Al you are not a true fan all you want is Wilder out. All I can say is put your money (if you have any) where your mouth is, buy the club put your own manager in etc then you take the flack. If you have no money shut up and keep your negative comments to yourself. OUFC needs real SUPPORTERS who will follow the team no matter what not those who only wish to moan and groan, by the way Big AL are you Fergie in Disguise? You seem to have the same thoughts!!!!
Anyways, if indeed i am lucky enough to win a fortune on the Euromillions i will indeed do a few things, the stadium will be mine and leased to the club for £1 a year, if the club wer to be for sale i would purchase this and try to get Kelvin back, Wilder and his mob would be out on there ears toot suite, and i would employ someone with higher league experience to move us up the leagues, i do think this club could support mid range championship status, no more as Oxford is primarily a Education town rather then a sporting town.
As long as i have a pulse i shall support Oxford, and have my say.
Southstandupper
says...
10:48am Mon 11 Mar 13
Richard Wickson
says...
6:21pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Southstandupper wrote:If we had regular gates of 12,000 Kassam would charge an even more exorbitant rent than he does now. So therefore we would have no more for wages. One of the problems at present is the wages we pay are in the main too high for this League, look at Fleetwoods wage bill, it's not much higher than ours for a much bigger squad. Even under Jim Smith in the BSP we paid silly wages and I really can't understand why, we are not a big club and its way past time we stopped acting like one. Time to get our house in order with new management and a new lower paid but hungrier squad, other clubs can do it and so should we. There are some good young players out there, we already have Crocombe and Marsh so we have a head start.
Ok Chish and Fips but my point is rather than moaning and groaning all the time even when we have a good result do something about it rather than bleat on all the time about the same things. We need supporters who support the club. The only way Big Al Biker will get his way is to buy the club, appoint who he wants and see how things go. IL will do what he wants when he wants and I still believe he has the best interests of the club at heart. To all the fair weather supporters, if we have 12k gates regularly from true supporters we would have more money avialable and we would have better players and possibly Manager, and a better chance to buy the stadium, however the stay away fans mean we don't have the money or opportunity to move from our present situation. No money to buy out contracts etc so we are stuck with what we have. At the end of the day being realistic is it better to have a mid table team in the football league or no team at all?

BigAlBiker says...
5:05pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Even though this was a fantastic win for the mighty yellows I still call for the Taxi for Wlder.