Didcot Tn 0, Oxford Utd XI 2

PAUL Tait made a successful comeback in Oxford United's win over Didcot Town in a hastily-arranged friendly at the Loop Meadow Stadium last night.

Coach Mickey Lewis also included Kevin Francis in a strong line-up for his first start of the season, but he failed to shine.

Tait showed no effects from a recent knee operation and marked his return with a five-star performance.

He was the master of the midfield, but for all his promptings United's only goal in the first half was a 20th minute penalty by Ben Abbey after Adam Hamp was brought down by Simon Kelly.

Oxford laid siege to the home side's goal at the start of the second half and Abbey and Simon Weatherstone went close to increasing the lead in the opening two minutes.

But they had to wait until the 70th minute for the second when Weatherstone was put through by Chris Hackett and easily beat the advancing Alex Deadman.

Apart from a brave save at the feet of Julio Barresi, United keeper Phil Wilson was never tested until the 85th minute when he made a brilliant finger-tip save from Lee Cook.

Oxford Utd Res: Wilson, Ricketts, (Jones 65), Spence, (McIntosh 70), Lewis, Shepheard, Whitehead, Tait, S Weatherstone, Hamp, (Hackett 60), Francis, Abbey. Sub not used: Brooks.

Story date: Friday 07 January

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.