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Burton Albion 1 - 2 Oxford Utd (18/08)
Rob Duffy  celebrates the winner
Rob Duffy celebrates the winner

Yemi Odubade came up trumps for Oxford United again last night with two vital assists as Jim Smith's men came from behind to keep their 100 per cent Conference record.

Second-half sub Odubade delivered a pinpoint cross to make Rob Duffy's equaliser 15 minutes from time at Burton's Pirelli Stadium.

And he then used his pace on a break along the right to earn a penalty which Duffy coolly converted five minutes from time.

It was quite a turn-around after Nigel Clough's team had led for more than an hour.

Clough was furious with the penalty decision, awarded by a linesman against Darren Tinson for his challenge on Odubade, and the Burton boss would have been sent to the stand in the 90th minute for a remark to the fourth official had he not made a hasty retreat.

Odubade, who had replaced Steve Basham early in the second half, made the difference again.

His inch-perfect centre from the right for Duffy to head downwards and in from four yards in front of the massed ranks of United's away fans was the catalyst for a great comeback victory.

For this was a hard-earned win against a good Burton Albion team, who hit the woodwork three times.

But, in an entertaining and attack-minded encounter, the U's also hit the woodwork twice themselves.

Duffy took his Conference goals this season to three, and he's starting to look the business.

United, playing in their new all-white strip for the first time, were probably relieved to be playing in more of a proper stadium and on a high-quality pitch again after their uncomfortable night at Dagenham.

But their proud record of having not conceded a goal lasted just 15 minutes.

Andy Corbett delivered the ball in from the right, and former Boston and Chester marksman Daryl Clare escaped United's marking to glance in a header.

The U's could not say they hadn't been warned. Just five minutes earlier, Darren Stride, from 25 yards out, and despite having a crowd of players in front of him, chipped Billy Turley only to see the effort smack against the bar.

Jim Smith was playing a more attacking formation, partly enforced because of the suspensions for Chris Willmott and Barry Quinn, with Steve Basham up front alongside Rob Duffy.

It was effectively a 3-4-1-2 formation with Chris Hargreaves taking over from Eddie Hutchinson in midfield and John Dempster in the Quinn sweeper role.

Basham made his presence felt in the first few minutes by beautifully controlling a long ball from the back on the volley, to beat his marker, and then hammering in a long-range shot which kevin Poole saved to his left.

Andy Burgess was showing signs of being back to his creative best, and a superb ball in from the former Rushden midfielder was just turned aside for a corner by Ryan Austin before Basham could knock it in.

After falling behind for the first time this campaign, United looked for an immediate response and two good opportunities followed in quick succession.

From a corner that was headed out, Hargreaves sent another header back with interest and it was going in had it not been for Austin's timely intervention.

Then a quality flat cross, this time with his right foot, by Burgess, presented Basham with a chance in a great position, but he headed over.

Stride, the Brewers' influential midfielder, was hurt in a block tackle with Carl Pettefer but carried on after treatment.

Burgess was fouled just outside the area in the final minute of the first half, and United almost equalised from the free-kick. Burgess floated the free-kick over the wall, but it struck the bar.

Hargreaves saved the visitors two minutes into the second half when he cleared from in front of his line after Keith Gilroy's low angled shot had beaten Turley.

The Oxford fans, packed behind one goal, started to really play their part with some fantastic vocal support.

Odubade headed against the near post from a Gavin Johnson cross, but the Brewers were just as unfortunate as Lee Fowler hit a ferocious 25-yard drive that crashed against the bar.

Burton then hit the woodwork for the third time when Gilroy's 20-yard shot, deflected off a defender's foot and struck the bar.

Duffy's two goals turned the game on its head, and in five minutes of stoppage time at the end, the Oxford players worked tirelessly to hold onto what they had, Turley pulling off a stunning save to his left from Clare's header in the 92nd minute.

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