Alex, Pete, Tim, John Orton, Mike, Dan, Steve Matty, Jimmy Higgins, Johnny Kershaw, Chris Chambers.

Johnny Wallace, Johnny PNE, Des. Little Ash and Jimmy as subs.

Jason failure to turn up meant we had to change our game plan as we didn't really have any out lets for the balls down the channels. Instead we aim on keeping it tight, playing up to feet to our strikers and hoping we could get our midfield to support our front two.

Oxford playing a three five two swamped us in middle of the park and it was them who were driving us back and it was no surprise when they took a 1-0 lead. Pete who was finding it tough coping with the fast running of the Oxford front runners pulled up and was replaced by Johnny Wallace with Dan going to right back and Johnny filling in on the right flank.

This seemed to help us as Dan pushed up on their wide player giving Wallace the chance to support our isolated front two. We slowly began to get into the game and it was no surprise when Matty who has being having a tough time recently did what only he can do as he danced through the Oxford back line before playing a neat one two with Chris Chambers before sliding the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Another injury this time to Tim and it looks a bad one meant Jimmy Higgins moving in to the centre with Steve dropping back to center half and Little Ash coming on wide left. This meant we had a bit more pace about us and as the ref blew for half time we all felt we were begging to get on top.

The half time team talk was just about more of the same but also about trying to get the ball out to the flanks a bit earlier.

The ref blew for the start of the second half and after only two minutes a move came from Preston that had quality written all over, it took five quick passes before the ball was laid out wide right to J. Wallace who's cross had goal written all over it just needed some lucky person to get something on it and it was Chris Chambers who duly obliged, his bullet header leaving the Oxford keeper grasping fresh air as the ball rifled into the top corner.

You could feel the despair on the Oxford lads as they lined up to restart the game. Another great effort this time by little Ash left J.Wallace the simple task of hammering the ball into the unguarded effort as the Oxford Keeper could only palm out Ash's long range effort.

But Oxford refused to lie down and a brilliant 25 yard effort by the Oxford Midfield player meant the tempo of the game would continue right to the end. But Preston who was playing some great controlled football added two further goals ensured that the three points went to the Preston North End Team.

It was hard fought game one of the most even contests we have had at our place for a long while. Every Credit to Oxford especially the way they started the game but ours is a big pitch and you have to be fit to keep it going like that for 90mins and in the end the Oxford lads just ran out of steam but thanks again to them for their efforts today.

On a downside it was shame to lose Tim and it doesn’t look good for him. Also Jason failure to turn up was a big blow to us. On the positive side it was great to give all the players a game. Dayle Andy and Jason brother could have got an hat trick in the last ten minutes with the chances that fell is way but it wasn’t to be LOL. Johnny PNE again did well and he looks a good player for the future. But special mention should go to Matty and J.Wallace.

I gave Matty a good talking to on Friday about doing his stuff in the right areas and today he responded. I gave him the Captains armband as well as another way of showing him that he as to do it for the team and today the guy for me was Man of the Match with a great goal thrown in as well. Also J. Wallace had a great game he played some real quality balls into the box from the right hand side.

Well done boys