United's season suffered a new low as they crashed out of the FA Trophy against the Angels of Tonbridge last night.

It is now more than seven and a half hours since they last found the net, as they pitifully fired another series of blanks in their first-round replay.

Eddie Hutchinson, Rob Duffy, Yemi Odubade and Phil Trainer were all guilty of squandering good opportunities in the second half.

Ryman Premier League Tonbridge had two players sent off in the last three minutes - Scott Kinch and Hamid Barr, both for second yellow cards.

But it was striker Barr's goal after 30 minutes which settled this tie, and Tonbridge Angels now go through to meet AFC Wimbledon at home in the second round on January 12.

Just 57 United supporters made the journey to Kent, only the most loyal followers braving the midwinter cold, huddled together behind one goal in the North Mezzanine Stand.

Longmead Stadium was actually a lot better than it looked on the website snaps, with a stand of some size and shape on all four sides United forced a corner in the opening 30 seconds after good work from James Clarke and Carl Pettefer, but keeper Matt Reed dealt with it assuredly.

Playing in all yellow, the U's tried to force the pace but often the final pass let them down.

Darren Patterson had made three changes to the starting line-up with Ashley Barnes replacing Yemi Odubade up front, and Pettefer filling the wide right berth in midfield because Joel Ledgister had a thigh injury. And in goal was 18-year-old Sam Warrell, making his first-team debut, because of Billy Turley's shoulder injury.

Tonbridge had their first sight of goal in the ninth minute when Hamid Barr was left in a lot of space in the middle to advance and shoot. He chose to strike early and it was an easy save for Sam Warrell.

Moments later Richard Harris got above Barry Quinn to meet a right-wing cross with his head, but his effort was straight at Warrell.

Tonbridge midfielder Kinch got away with only a lecture from the ref after a late challenge which left Trainer in some pain.

The home side took the lead on the half hour when Hamid Barr collected a return pass 15 yards out and hit a low shot between Warrell and his near post.

Only seconds earlier, Luke Foster had got away with a very robust challenge on the striker inside the box, which looked, from a distance, as though it might have taken Barr's legs away, but no penalty was given.

Barnes was holding the ball up well and setting up attacks, but the visitors struggled to get their shots in. Trainer tried a low drive on 37 minutes, but it was a comfortable save for Reed.

Hutchinson followed suit soon after.

Oxford were desperately unlucky not to equalise at the start of the second half with Hutchinson forcing the issue to set up golden chances.

First he outjumped the keeper and poked the loose ball oalwards from six yards, only to see James Donovan clear off the line.

Then, from the corner, Hutchinson leapt well to arrow in a header. Duffy was on it at the near post, but somehow blazed over, although it must have been deflected over, because a corner was awarded.

As Oxford continued to press, further opportunities came. Odubade, a half-time replacement for Barnes, was set clear by Quinn's header and he forced a good save from Reed.

In the closing 20 minutes, it was all Oxford against a tiring Tonbridge.

But they still couldn't score, even when Tonbridge were reduced to nine.