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Oxford United: Turley, Mansell, Willmott, Ashton, Robinson, Hackett, Quinn, Hargreaves, Gray, Bashum, Bradbury.
Subs: Tardif, Weedon, Davies, Stirling, Hughes

Torquay United: Marriott, Hockley, Taylor, Woods, McGlinchey, Hill, Hewlett, Garner, Sow, Kuffour, Constantine.
Subs: Villis, Lawless, Sharp, Connell, Coleman

CLICK HERE for match pics (courtesy of Steve Mumford)

The Gulls kicked off this Wednesday evening match at the Kassam Stadium, put back a day as per usual because Oxford regard Tuesday matches with some distaste!
 After only 3 minutes Constantine picked up an injury and was in some trouble. He went off for treatment for a mystery injury leaving the Gulls to play on with 10 men.
Alan Connell finally came on to take Leon's place after the striker had received 5 minutes of treatment.
The first shot anywhere near goal came from Mansell after 9 minutes, well wide!
A fine build up on 11 minutes saw Robinson completely fluff his cross with three Oxford men in the middle, but he did win the first corner of the match which came to nothing.
In the 12th minute Kuffour burst through and won a corner which was cleared but the ball came back to Kuffour who tried to squeeze it through to Connell but the keeper gathered.
On 14 minutes a clear chance fell to Oxford but they couldn't take it as Bradbury fired wide.
2 minutes later Bradbury beat Taylor to the ball via a deflection but his effort went over the bar.
Oxford again created a chance after 22 minutes but dismal finishing saw the ball end up in the stands.
In the 23rd minute the sprinklers came on!

Connell almost created a chance on 25 minutes but the ball was cleared and Oxford broke to the other end for Taylor to clear.
Hackett blasted the ball across Marriott's goal on 27 minutes but it lacked quality or direction. A minute later he had another shot and just missed the corner flag!
Hewlett almost set up Kuffour in the 31st minute but his effort was cleared as Kuffour stumbled.
With four minutes to half-time some excellent recovery play saw Hockley and Quinn clash, only for Hockley to predictably win the goal-kick.
Oxford won a corner with two minutes left; the Gulls could only clear for another corner which was then wasted as the Gulls played the ball out.
There was no further excitement in the one minute of added on time bar a shot from Quinn that was deflected for a corner, but time ran out before it could be taken.

HT 0 - 0

2 minutes into the second half Bashum missed the best chance of the match to either side so far by firing well over.
Bashum then won a free-kick right on the edge of the 'D', left of centre with 5 minutes gone. Gray fired wide of the left-hand upright.
The crowd then thought Hacket had scored as the ball stuck behind the stanchion in the 51st minute.
The Gulls won a free-kick a minute later and pushed into the Oxford half to win a corner. It was quickly taken short to Kuffour who had his shot blocked and then cleared.
On 55 minutes Bradbury scored for Oxford with an acrobatic left-footed overhead kick from a cross by Mansell.
Oxford continued to press as Hackett beat two men before crossing only to Marriott.
Kuffour broke clear on 58 minutes and combined with Sow only for the off-side flag to go up.
On the hour mark Hockley sent a teasing cross in which was safely gathered by Turley.
Two minutes later Sow and Connell linked to set Kuffour into the area but Turley was quick to gather.
Connell had Torquay's best chance to equalise as he stayed onside and collected the ball from Hockley but chipped over from 18 yards.
For Oxford, Davies then replaced Bashum.
Marriott then saved the day after making an error under pressure but then saving from Bradbury.
On 70 minutes Davies was booked for a late challenge on Taylor.
For Torquay, Lawless and Villis then replaced Garner and Hewlett, with Taylor moving up front just behind Connell and Kuffour.
Villis made a solid challenge on Davies on 76 minutes and set up a break on the other end where Kuffour could have levelled the scores but just could not reach the ball, much to the relief of Turley.
On 78 minutes Ashton handled the ball in the area but no penalty was given.
Kuffour then tried an overhead kick with 9 minutes to go and won a corner, taking Robinson out at the same time. Sow could not capitalise from the resulting corner.
Lawless and Kuffour caused panic in the Oxford defence but again couldn't capitalise with 3 minutes left.
Three minutes of time were added on as Kuffour again tried to break past the Oxford defence and Mansell cleared the danger.

FT 1 - 0