Oxford United said good riddance to 2007!

Last year promised so much, with the U's top of the Conference in Christmas 2006, but the terrible slump in the second half of the campaign was replicated in the first half of this season.

United's playing record for 2007 was: played 57, won 20, drawn 19, lost 18. Goals for 62, against 56.

That's not so bad, except that Oxford are playing in the Blue Square Premier!

Chairman Nick Merry admitted in his programme notes against Kidderminster: "Looking back over the last 12 months it has been a tough year for us all.

"We started 2007 in a great position in the league, but come May it was to end in heartbreak. Not regaining our place in the Football League at the first attempt was one of the most disappointing things I have ever experienced.

"To have such great hopes, and so many people giving such tremendous backing, made it very hard to take and perhaps it has taken us longer to recover from that than we credited. Now is the time to move on."

Oxford's dismal 2007 contrasted greatly with More- cambe's.

Their record of 24 wins, 13 draws and just six defeats in league and play-off matches has propelled Sammy McIlroy's men from promotion long-shots from the Conference 12 months ago to just one place off the play-offs in League Two a year later.