Oxford United lost at home for the first time this season as a spirited second half just failed to earn them anything against unbeaten Lincoln City.
Oxford were 2-0 down at the break to goals from Tom Hopper and Anthony Scully. The U's were much improved in the second half but had only a Cameron Brannagan penalty to show for their efforts in the welcome rain at the Kassam Stadium.
United were behind after 20 minutes when Scully swung over the most inviting of crosses and Hopper hung in the air to head past the horribly exposed Simon Eastwood.
Both sides zipped the ball around as the rain fell for the first time since the season started, but United’s attractive approach play wasn’t converted into goals in the first half, with Billy Bodin heading into stand-in keeper Jordan Wright’s gloves with one chance and driving another just wide.
Lincoln were ferocious in closing United down, with the outstanding Marcus McGuane covering an enormous amount of ground to stop them and then drive the U's forward.
They might have been level at the break when Brannagan fired wide from 20 yards but instead were 2-0 down when Scully scored his customary goal against them. Max Sanders won a loose ball as the Imps pressed once again and Scully carried the ball forward then curled a fine finish beyond the reach of Simon Eastwood to make it 2-0 at the interval. The Ox files: Scully has now scored in each of the last five meetings between the teams. Call Mulder to investigate.
Two goals down at home for the second Tuesday in a row. No mystery about what was said at half time, and things were immediately better as United raised their game kicking towards the East Stand and their own fans (the first time they have done that in a second half this season).
Brannagan, so often the inspiration, roared forward and immediately forced Wright into a good save, Bodin couldn't make decent contact with a superb Long cross after 57, Marcus Browne rippled the wrong side of the net with a free kick on 62 and then on 65 the lifeline came when the imposing Stuart Findlay headed the ball back across goal and sub Kyle Joseph was judged to have been dragged back as he tried to turn the ball home. Brannagan of course scored from the spot.
In the long term, Marcus Browne limping off before the kick was taken may be more serious than the result, but with 20 minutes to go it was time for the siege to begin. United went to three at the back, Lincoln went to nine, and it was a 20 minute game of attack v defence.
Man of the Match McGuane, as voted by everybody in the ground, saw a drive deflected wide after 90 minutes and seven minutes of added time saw Moore flick a header wide, Joseph denied by the keeper and Eastwood up in the opposition box to try and find an equaliser.
Credit to Lincoln who stood firm and remain unbeaten afer four games. United will take heart from the second half but simply can't afford to chase from two goals down every home game. Starting against Morecambe on Saturday.
Att: 6,912
Away: 326
Polythene UK Fifty/50 winning number 37658 wins £539
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels and Steve Edmunds, stats by OPTA