Torquay United 1 (Downes 58) Oxford United 3 (Constable 50, Batt pen 54, Heslop 90+4) (From Banbury Cake)
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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 are closed on this article.

Comments (43)
5:05pm Sat 9 Mar 13
BigAlBiker says...
Even though this was a fantastic win for the mighty yellows I still call for the Taxi for Wlder.
5:08pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun says...
5:08pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Richard Wickson says...
5:19pm Sat 9 Mar 13
35 year fan says...
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.
5:33pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Magiltonmagic. says...
5:38pm Sat 9 Mar 13
foxvox says...
5:42pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun says...
5:44pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun says...
5:50pm Sat 9 Mar 13
YellowLAD says...
5:54pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun says...
5:59pm Sat 9 Mar 13
learned says...
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..
6:28pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Magiltonmagic. says...
6:33pm Sat 9 Mar 13
YellowRose says...
6:34pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun says...
6:39pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun says...
6:41pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Magiltonmagic. says...
7:06pm Sat 9 Mar 13
oldun says...
7:20pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Chish and Fips says...
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..
7:29pm Sat 9 Mar 13
YellowLAD says...
7:45pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Chish and Fips says...
8:53pm Sat 9 Mar 13
dorsetyellows says...
9:51pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Coyyellows says...
6:06am Sun 10 Mar 13
oldun says...
6:44am Sun 10 Mar 13
Chish and Fips says...
6:58am Sun 10 Mar 13
oldun says...
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
8:07am Sun 10 Mar 13
adlibber says...
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
8:30am Sun 10 Mar 13
adlibber says...
Keep up the good work.
9:20am Sun 10 Mar 13
A Scroat says...
10:04am Sun 10 Mar 13
bigchet says...
10:07am Sun 10 Mar 13
chrishay123 says...
10:13am Sun 10 Mar 13
chrishay123 says...
10:31am Sun 10 Mar 13
oldun says...
, 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
10:31am Sun 10 Mar 13
oldun says...
, 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
12:28pm Sun 10 Mar 13
adlibber says...
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.
4:55pm Sun 10 Mar 13
foxvox says...
5:24pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Southstandupper says...
5:39pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Southstandupper says...
5:40pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Chish and Fips says...
Rather ridiculous post I might add by your good self about buying the club etc..
8:22am Mon 11 Mar 13
Southstandupper says...
8:28am Mon 11 Mar 13
oldun says...
10:25am Mon 11 Mar 13
BigAlBiker says...
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.
10:48am Mon 11 Mar 13
Southstandupper says...
6:21pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Richard Wickson says...