Oxford United through - but at a cost (From Oxford Mail)
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Oxford United through - but at a cost
9:20am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in U's News
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
James Constable celebrates the opening goal
OXFORD United progressed to the third round of the FA Cup last night, but felt a poor Kassam Stadium playing surface contributed to an injury and a low-quality game.
Second-half goals from James Constable and Peter Leven earned the U’s a 2-0 win in their replay against Accrington Stan-ley.
The game took more than an hour to spark into life, but the hosts were good value for their win in the end.
Joy at setting up a third round tie at home to Sheffield United next month was tempered by frustration at the quality of the pitch.
Suffering the after-effects of London Welsh’s game on Saturday, the bumpy surface led to a host of bobbles which disrupted both sides.
Full back Damian Batt said: “I’ve been here nearly four years now and that’s the worst I’ve seen it.
“A few times the ball skidded off players and the crowd got frustrated, but I don’t think they realised just how difficult it was to play on.
“We did what we had to do and sometimes games are not as pretty as we’d like them to be, but we’re in the next round.”
Mickey Lewis felt it also played a part in Adam Chapman coming off with a twisted ankle and the U’s assistant manager was unhappy with the number of divots.
He said: “There was a rugby game here at the weekend, I don’t think I’m talking out of turn, but I think anyone who can see the pitch would say it’s not in the condition it was in last season.”
It is the first time in ten years that United have made it through to the third round.
Comments(15)
Joe1
says...
10:13am Wed 19 Dec 12
"COME ON YOU YELLOWS"
Bodkin
says...
10:35am Wed 19 Dec 12
bobbylashley wrote:The Reading pitch is a Desso pitch which has high levels of artificial fibres in it and is the current industry standard for dual use pitches. The kassam is an xtra grass pitch and has a history of drainage and other problems. Rolling the pitch only compacts the surface and creates more drainage problems and weakens the roots. The surface issue is less likely to be connected to 'bumps' in the pitch but bare areas where the grass has been damaged and so there are undulations that affect the roll of the ball. The pitch has actually done really well so far given the duel use, but more rain particularly during games, will cause more deterioration. The groundstaff are very limited in what they can do and they knew this when they took on a non Desso pitch.
Why wasnt the pitch rolled after the game on Saturday. Surely 3 days to prepare a pitch is long enough. Reading have the same issues with London Irish playing on their pitch but havent heard any problems there?
jbowling
says...
10:55am Wed 19 Dec 12
A win was important last night - more important than the performance on this occasion.
But the size of the crowd !!!
bobbylashley
says...
11:27am Wed 19 Dec 12
Bodkin wrote:Thanks for the info on the pitch. At least we won
bobbylashley wrote:The Reading pitch is a Desso pitch which has high levels of artificial fibres in it and is the current industry standard for dual use pitches. The kassam is an xtra grass pitch and has a history of drainage and other problems. Rolling the pitch only compacts the surface and creates more drainage problems and weakens the roots. The surface issue is less likely to be connected to 'bumps' in the pitch but bare areas where the grass has been damaged and so there are undulations that affect the roll of the ball. The pitch has actually done really well so far given the duel use, but more rain particularly during games, will cause more deterioration. The groundstaff are very limited in what they can do and they knew this when they took on a non Desso pitch.
Why wasnt the pitch rolled after the game on Saturday. Surely 3 days to prepare a pitch is long enough. Reading have the same issues with London Irish playing on their pitch but havent heard any problems there?
BigOx22
says...
11:33am Wed 19 Dec 12
bigchet
says...
12:25pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Beau champ mummy
says...
12:43pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Brenda Jackson
says...
12:58pm Wed 19 Dec 12
BigOx22 wrote:''When was the last time the club did anything to reward the fans''???
I agree good information. We should have never let London Welsh play on our pitch. We knew it was not take it. It's not rocket science. Also the crowd size was an issue. Why not drop the ticket prices and get more people to come and watch. The club are clueless when it comes to rewarding the loyal fans. When was the last time the club did anything to reward the fans???
Great question, love to hear what the Chairman's response is, does he go to matches, Oxford matches i mean, not egg chasers.
BigOx22
says...
1:08pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Beau champ mummy wrote:Kassam owns the ground staff now. We have no control over it anymore hence the reason the pitch is so poor. Kassam has us round the throat with everything we do.
It's simple really sack the groundsman he is clearly useless
oldun
says...
2:03pm Wed 19 Dec 12
BigOx22 wrote:Crowd sizes in the vast majority of FA Cup ties (look at the other 'crowds' last night) are way way down on what they were even ten years ago - let alone in 63-64 when 26,500 saw 4th division United visit 3rd division Brentford in a widweek replay (4th round) attracted 26,500 (no extra 0 there) and the visit of Kettering to the Manor in the second round drew 10,518
I agree good information. We should have never let London Welsh play on our pitch. We knew it was not take it. It's not rocket science. Also the crowd size was an issue. Why not drop the ticket prices and get more people to come and watch. The club are clueless when it comes to rewarding the loyal fans. When was the last time the club did anything to reward the fans???
osney terrier
says...
4:32pm Wed 19 Dec 12
If kassam could play ice hockey on it on a Sunday night he would.
We need to buy it or get out and thats the easy part
Where's the money to buy?
Where do we go if we leave ?
Help!!!!
fredford
says...
8:25pm Wed 19 Dec 12
t an idea of course but i'm sick at being held to ransom by that fecking sh1thouse of a slum landlord.
Brenda Jackson
says...
9:56pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Maybe the City council -no friends of kassam, might ditch the plans for a new swimming pool at the leys and invest in Utd instead.
Plus, surely there are other potential backers, even in today's financial climate.
hawkeye1
says...
6:36am Thu 20 Dec 12
Brenda Jackson wrote:Hey Brenda,
Ground share with Oxford City, a bit of gradual development or foot in the door approach might be the answer.
Maybe the City council -no friends of kassam, might ditch the plans for a new swimming pool at the leys and invest in Utd instead.
Plus, surely there are other potential backers, even in today's financial climate.
As I had said in earier posts, nobody is going to come forward and invest in Oxford United while that blood sucker Kassam has anything to do with the ground, as I said before if someone was to invest he would find some way to take their money that they invested, and put it in his pocket, probably by again increasing the rent, it would be so nice to be able to leave that ground and tell him to shove it where the sun does not shine...what is the old saying, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul, well he lost his a long time ago, the only bright point is he can't take his money with him when he pop's his clogg's, but there again, we are talking about old scrooge Kassam here.
bobbylashley says...
10:09am Wed 19 Dec 12