A Chris Forino header was enough to give Wycombe Wanderers all three points at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon in a game overshadowed by a medical incident in the crowd that delayed the first half by 45 minutes.
Defender Forino glided home a header in the first half to decide a game in which United had missed the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot before the game's only goal, and then couldn't turn possession into points despite a largely one-sided second half.
United should have been in front before the long pause in the action. An early drive from Sam Long tested visiting keeper Max Stryjek’s handling although that was matched by Simon Eastwood soon after as he dealt with a dipping inswinging corner from Joe Jacobson on 12 minutes.
The game's turning point then came a minute later when a back header from Forino looked to have enough pace on it for the keeper to gather, but Marcus Browne had other ideas and chased it down, touching it past the keeper and being bowled over.
Unfortunately Cameron Brannagan for once proved fallible from the spot, Stryjek pushing his penalty away and James Henry finding the keeper on his feet and making an even better save from the rebound.
None of which mattered too much.
Football is important, but not THAT important. Moments after the penalty the medical incident occurred in the South Stand and the game was held up. Our thoughts are with the supporter and our thanks go to the medical team who responded to the situation superbly.
Understandably, the game restarted in a sombre mood but was brought back into sharp focus after 33 minutes when the visitors took the lead. It was a superb cross that led to the goal, Alfie Mawson drilling the ball in from the left and Forino’s forehead guiding the ball perfectly past the helpless Eastwood to make it 1-0.
United responded positively and might have been level at the break, Ciaron Brown and Cameron Brannagan both seeing efforts deflected off target. They then laid siege to the Wycombe goal after the interval and invited their opponents to hit them on the break if they could. That's not always a great thing to do against a side with the experience of players like Garath McCleary and Sam Vokes, and at times United lived dangerously but they coped and defended well when required.
With the biggest home crowd of the season right behind them, United did all they could, but every time they got sight of goal a leg came out to block the shot or a header nicked the ball off the person behind. Ciaron Brown launched throw after throw into the danger zone, Brannagan blasted two shots over the bar, crosses were hacked clear and nothing quite fell United's way.
Taylor saw a last minute drive saved at full stretch by Stryjek, but it simply wasn't United's day.
In football terms a poor result, no hiding from that. And yet, seeing an ambulance take a fan away from the stadium maybe reminds you of the bigger picture.
Att: 10,007
Away: 1,386
Fifty/50 winning number 46703 wins £916
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds and Rex Shutterstock. Stats by OPTA