AFC Wimbledon 0 Oxford United 3 (Rigg 32, Potter 37, Craddock 64) (From Herald Series)
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AFC Wimbledon 0 Oxford United 3 (Rigg 32, Potter 37, Craddock 64)
4:55pm Saturday 29th December 2012 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
OXFORD United's strong finish to the calendar year continued as they were too good for AFC Wimbledon, but the result was soured by a red card for James Constable.
A quick double from Sean Rigg and Alfie Potter put the visitors in charge at half time.
After weathering a storm from the hosts, United made sure of the points when Tom Craddock pounced on an error to make it 3-0.
It looked a perfect away day for the visitors, but Constable's straight red card for an alleged elbow complicated the final 20 minutes.
The U's defended well to claim a hard-earned clean sheet, claiming a second win in four days to extend their unbeaten run to nine games.
Heavy rain put the game in doubt, but once the game started the surface coped well, for which Wimbledon deserve credit.
United made just one enforced change to the side which started the 3-1 win at Exeter City in Boxing Day.
With Liam Davis injured and Tony Capaldi suspended, Luke O'Brien came into the side at left back for the first time since October.
After an even opening, United were the first to threaten.
Potter had two sights of goal, dragging one effort wide and drawing a smart stop from veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan with the other.
In between the winger set up Rigg, whose sweetly-struck volley flew just wide.
Wimbledon were given a foothold in the game by the award of two questionable handball decisions on the edge of United's box.
Both were wasted, with Paul McCallum blasting over and U's goalkeeper Ryan Clarke catching Rashid Yussuff's tame effort.
Around the half hour mark the visitors began to control of the game.
Potter was at the heart of United's most dangerous moments and the winger was key to a clinical move which broke the deadlock on 32 minutes.
Collecting the ball from Craddock, he cut across the Wombles' area, delaying his pass expertly to slip in Rigg, who lifted the ball over Sullivan and into the net.
Within five minutes the pair's roles were reversed. Rigg crossed from the left and Potter, the shortest man on the pitch, rose to head past Sullivan.
The cushion gave United a swagger on the ball, but Wimbledon almost pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time.
Jack Midson worked some space 20 yards out and his left-footed drive skidded a whisker wide of Clarke's left-hand post.
The home side came roaring back into the game after the break in search of a lifeline.
United had to dig in to protect their lead and needed a brilliant clearance on the goal line by Peter Leven to keep Wimbledon out.
Yussuff had a clear sight of goal on 55 minutes, but the midfielder shot wide from 12 yards to let the U's off the hook.
The key moments came just after the hour mark and revolved around Will Antwi.
The Wombles centre back had a glorious chance to score from Ajala's cross, but he headed wide.
When United broke forward Antwi attempted to head the ball back to Sullivan, but he could only find a lurking Craddock.
The striker could not believe his luck and gratefully buried the ball into the net.
The points looked in the bag for the visitors, but midway through the half they were rocked by a dismissal.
Antwi went down after an aerial challenge with Constable and the referee adjudged the striker had led with his elbow, producing a straight red card.
It looked a harsh decision, particularly as Antwi recovered very quickly after the card was shown.
Wimbledon had just over 20 minutes to make their numerical advantage count.
United showed plenty of appetite to defend, though and kept clear chances to a minimum.
Up front, substitute Josh Parker did well to occupy the centre backs in a lone role.
A clean sheet, and the three points, were well deserved, but Constable's sending off took the edge off the joy.
Oxford Utd: Clarke, Batt, Raynes, Wright, O'Brien, Potter (Duberry 87), Cox, Leven, Rigg (Parker 77), Constable, Craddock (Heslop 68).
Unused subs: Brown, Worley, Forster-Caskey, Marsh.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Osano, Antwi, Mambo, Cummings, Long, Yussuff (Jolley 73), Meades, Ajala (Kiernan 82) McCallum (Prior 72), Midson.
Unused subs: Jamiez-Ruiz, Balkestein, Mitchel-King, Hervel.
Referee: Lee Collins.
Attendance: 4,401 (749 visitors).
Comments(33)
cleverswindler
says...
5:03pm Sat 29 Dec 12
BigAlBiker
says...
5:26pm Sat 29 Dec 12
Bring on Sheffield Utd.
mechcol
says...
5:41pm Sat 29 Dec 12
northampton yellow
says...
6:02pm Sat 29 Dec 12
oldun
says...
7:11pm Sat 29 Dec 12
cleverswindler wrote:I remain a doom monger - just when did you last hear a happy doom monger? This is a very disappointing season - if we come 4th and don't go up , the season will have been a choker - won't it?
Not good enough, only 3-0? the doom mongers won't be happy!
Chickengeorge44
says...
7:42pm Sat 29 Dec 12
Eraser
says...
8:12pm Sat 29 Dec 12
The Manager
says...
8:31pm Sat 29 Dec 12
bigchet
says...
8:32pm Sat 29 Dec 12
roy burton's tights
says...
8:40pm Sat 29 Dec 12
tws
says...
10:01pm Sat 29 Dec 12
To change tack somewhat, after refereeing for 20 years, the decision to send off Beano was so wrong, seen it on Sky & replayed it many times, same conclusion, I doubt its a foul, let alone a red!!!
To be fair to the referee, he was conned by a soon recovered "cheat", who apparently found the whole thing, "funny"!!!
I wonder if the lino could help the appeal, or will the officials avoid truth & justice & stick with the original decision! Lets be clear, in the lower levels of football, red cards are rarely resinded as the FA will back the original decision & the ref will get penalised if he made a genuine mistake & on seeing a replay, changes his mind. He's damned either way, just proves how difficult it is with players going down so easy, to get the right call!!!
Wonder how Jack Midson will play this, I liked him as a United player but will his loyalty be to a cheating team mate, or will he back whats right & proper, I won't be surprised if he sticks with his cheating team mate though, such is the life of the "pro footballer"!!
CW said an Oxford player wouldn't do this & I believe him!!!
Tim The Ref
martico1
says...
10:03pm Sat 29 Dec 12
Any sane judge will see that Beano's 'elbow' (a few feet from where I was standing) was a flapping hand, although sometimes he dosn't help himself - but let's see if there are any when it comes to the appeal. Whatever happens, if 'Fanny' showed half Beano's commitment - as opposed to a lot of running but never quite getting there - he could be a real player for us
cleverswindler
says...
10:03pm Sat 29 Dec 12
I remember years ago, watching the U's play, just after we had signed John Aldridge for around 70k from Newport, he was obviously not match fit, but there was a cretin stood near us who was shouting what a waste of money etc, and I remember one of my mates telling him (politely!) to shut up, and watch a player who will be the best striker we shall see at the Manor.....and he was by a street. Easiest thing in the world to criticize, morons like Paul Merson etc even get paid for doing it!
35 year fan
says...
10:02am Sun 30 Dec 12
ignore oldun by the way hes obviously a s***don fan.
oldun
says...
10:58am Sun 30 Dec 12
35 year fan wrote:"Swindon fan" calling!! CW has not done especially well at United - I give him 6 out of 10. Four out of 10 since February. COYY
great pair of results there, well done lads. unfortunately the ref (and the fa) will defend the cheat rather than admit to a mistake but its right on principle to appeal.
ignore oldun by the way hes obviously a s***don fan.
The Manager
says...
4:29pm Sun 30 Dec 12
The Manager
says...
4:42pm Sun 30 Dec 12
carfax cabby ox1
says...
6:03pm Sun 30 Dec 12
cleverswindler
says...
6:03pm Sun 30 Dec 12
Secondly the gates in the FA Cup have been way down for several years now, unless you draw one of the so called big clubs ay home.
Finally, be careful what you wish for, Liverpool fans couldn't wait to get Dalglish back there, and look what a dogs breakfast he made of that, also McCarthy leaving Wolves etc, where has getting rid of managers got Oxford recently?
The Manager
says...
7:51pm Sun 30 Dec 12
EMBOX2
says...
9:29pm Sun 30 Dec 12
Disappointed to see Beano's red card but hopefully Whing, Potter and Batt can cover whilst he serves his ban. Next few games will be very interesting, though I think anything other than the league is a waste of time.
oldun
says...
10:05pm Sun 30 Dec 12
oldun
says...
10:05pm Sun 30 Dec 12
davecuddoufc
says...
12:23am Mon 31 Dec 12
meone explain this to me, please; how can we be great one game, then awful the next? (last two excepted). Can we expect to acquire a couple of decent players in the transfer window? Don't hold your breath. No more Cr*p loanees, please!
BigCrompy
says...
1:49am Mon 31 Dec 12
oldun wrote:Five days ago...surely?
Last time we beat a good team in the League? When was it?
oldun
says...
8:19am Mon 31 Dec 12
BigCrompy wrote:Silly me. Thank you . COYY
oldun wrote:Five days ago...surely?
Last time we beat a good team in the League? When was it?
fredford
says...
4:02pm Mon 31 Dec 12
The Manager wrote:Compare our attendance with others the same day.........so i dont really think it has any relevance.
O.ne other thing I forgot to add to my previous note if Wilder doesn't at least make the play offs it is time to move on. I support the club but look at the attendance for the cup game against Accrington that surely tells us all something
fredford
says...
4:12pm Mon 31 Dec 12
The Manager wrote:I think instead of rose tinted spectacles,you are wearing a big set of blinkers.you have to beat the team that is in front of you and we did beat the scum,unfortunately we have not fared as well against other teams,beating the scum is very very important but it's quite obvious that everyone would trade those scum wins to be top of the league at the moment but football doesnt actually work that way does it?
Well so I am a moaner .One thing for sure I don't wear rose tinted specs if some of you guys think that beating Swidon is more important than doing well in the league so be it. Yes we have extended our unbeaten run now with two wins on the bounce but how many draws before that. Wilder is in his fourth season hear and he has not exactly set the place alight. Ask how do other clubs with a smaller budget do well, this question has been raised many times this season. Now I'm sure I have a pair of those specs some where they obviously make a difference.
Also how do you know that we have bigger budgets than other so called smaller teams?? i think you'd find that although we have much bigger crowds than some, a certain(spit) Firoz Kassam takes a big chunk of gate reciepts along with the catering profits etc etc ............take ya blinkers off and see the wider picture.
oldun
says...
5:23pm Mon 31 Dec 12
fredford wrote:My guess is that neither of you knows the full financial picture - and of course nor do I (I am a very very very minor shareholder). I judge United's size by League crowds - there are clubs well above us in the league who have an average of 2500 fewer through the gate than we do . That's well over 50,000 a year - gate income (allowing for season tickets, concessions etc) - at least £500,000 more than those clubs. Time to play hardball with FK - he needs us just as much as we need him - surely the much praised KAlvin was well capable og playing hard ball. Time to investigate groundsharing with you know who.....? Not easy - but
The Manager wrote:I think instead of rose tinted spectacles,you are wearing a big set of blinkers.you have to beat the team that is in front of you and we did beat the scum,unfortunately we have not fared as well against other teams,beating the scum is very very important but it's quite obvious that everyone would trade those scum wins to be top of the league at the moment but football doesnt actually work that way does it?
Well so I am a moaner .One thing for sure I don't wear rose tinted specs if some of you guys think that beating Swidon is more important than doing well in the league so be it. Yes we have extended our unbeaten run now with two wins on the bounce but how many draws before that. Wilder is in his fourth season hear and he has not exactly set the place alight. Ask how do other clubs with a smaller budget do well, this question has been raised many times this season. Now I'm sure I have a pair of those specs some where they obviously make a difference.
Also how do you know that we have bigger budgets than other so called smaller teams?? i think you'd find that although we have much bigger crowds than some, a certain(spit) Firoz Kassam takes a big chunk of gate reciepts along with the catering profits etc etc ............take ya blinkers off and see the wider picture.
FK needs us - LW Rugby will be running at a big loss - average premiership crowds are over 10,000 - little 'Oxford Welsh' average half that - and the likes of Worcester, Quins, Northampton, Leicester, Exeter are not groundsharing
The Manager
says...
7:50pm Mon 31 Dec 12
Chish and Fips
says...
9:50am Tue 1 Jan 13
fredford wrote:Fred Ford !!- with all your ramblings about beating the scum - you use the name of an ex Swindon Town manager - he done quite well too, took us into Europe with the Anglo Italian Cup...
The Manager wrote:I think instead of rose tinted spectacles,you are wearing a big set of blinkers.you have to beat the team that is in front of you and we did beat the scum,unfortunately we have not fared as well against other teams,beating the scum is very very important but it's quite obvious that everyone would trade those scum wins to be top of the league at the moment but football doesnt actually work that way does it?
Well so I am a moaner .One thing for sure I don't wear rose tinted specs if some of you guys think that beating Swidon is more important than doing well in the league so be it. Yes we have extended our unbeaten run now with two wins on the bounce but how many draws before that. Wilder is in his fourth season hear and he has not exactly set the place alight. Ask how do other clubs with a smaller budget do well, this question has been raised many times this season. Now I'm sure I have a pair of those specs some where they obviously make a difference.
Also how do you know that we have bigger budgets than other so called smaller teams?? i think you'd find that although we have much bigger crowds than some, a certain(spit) Firoz Kassam takes a big chunk of gate reciepts along with the catering profits etc etc ............take ya blinkers off and see the wider picture.
adlibber
says...
1:28pm Tue 1 Jan 13
oldun says...
5:01pm Sat 29 Dec 12