Oxford United will play their football in npower League 2 again next season after their Play-Off dreams were ended by Port Vale this afternoon. Goals from Marc Richards, Sean Rigg and Ben Williamson condemned the U's to a 3-0 defeat in a game they needed to win, leaving rivals Crewe's result against Aldershot immaterial.

There were changes in personnel as United gave full debuts to both Damian Martinez in goal and Tony Capaldi in midfield: the first after one day of training the latter after a season. Both can be pleased with their performances. There was also a place for Tom Craddock after injury, joining Jon-Paul Pittman in a new-look front line and a return for Peter Leven in midfield in a 4-4-2 shape.

Pittman had the first attempt of the game, driving inches wide of the far post in the second minute from the right corner of the box, but within two minutes United's mission became even more difficult as Crewe took an early lead against Aldershot.

There was, of course, absolutely nothing United could do about events at Gresty Road, but try telling that to the fans who reacted to the Crewe news by raising their voices and singing their heads off to try and lift their team.They were almost rewarded on 17 minutes as Pittman's right wing cross was inches away from Craddock in the six yard box.

Craddock was even closer a minute later as he latched on to a superb pass from Peter Leven but could not force the ball past the sliding block from defender Joe Davis (doing his dad, the Crewe manager Steve, a big favour in the process).

With Aldershot equalising in the other game we were back to square one after half an hour with Pittman picking up a yellow card for supposedly diving inside the box as United pressed the home side back, but Vale had already fired a warning as Richards headed into the arms of Martinez, and with 41 minutes gone the striker was on hand to make it 1-0. There was no great danger as a long ball was hoisted forward, and 99 times out of 100 Jake Wright would clear the ball. Unfortunately on this occasion the United skipper got his header back to the keeper all wrong and Richards nipped in to finish beyond the stranded Martinez.

With Aldershot now in the lead at Crewe, United knew that they needed to go for broke and half time saw Adam Chapman and Scott Rendell come on as subs, with Oli Johnson joining them within five minutes.

Chapman almost scored with his first touch, finding the arms of keeper Tomlinson with an attempted chip, and the tension was almost unbearable as the fans implored their team to come towards them. So often the final ball was just cut out, a cross was blocked at source or a run into the box went unnoticed.

The danger was that in their rush to get forward United would leave gaps at the back, but that gamble had to be taken and it probably made for an exciting game if you were able to peep out from behind your fingers.

It seems odd that a goalkeeper who could be in the Argentina side in the future will be able to look back at one single appearance for Oxford United, but Martinez will look back with pride on one superb save as he reached up to tip a header from Tom Pope on to the bar on 65 minutes. The resulting corner was smuggled off the line after the ball had once again brushed the bar, but United simply had to ride their luck, and on 68 minutes that cost them as Sean Rigg, a threat all afternoon, ran clear and rifled a powerful shot past the helpless Martinez from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.

The game was up, despite Chapman fizzing an effort over the bar soon after and United continuing to throw men forward. Hall had a shot saved at the foot of the post, Johnson blasted over, but United could not find that moment of inspiration or a clinical finish in their hour of need. A third goal in injury time, Williamson seeing his effort well saved by Martinez but benefitting from the bounce of the ball to edge over the line, was almost an irrelevance.

Promotion was not lost on this one game; you can pick out incidents from any stage of the season which have come back to haunt the U's. Whether it was missed chances, individual errors, injuries or whatever reason you care to formulate, United have come up just short. There have been some great performances, both individually and as a team, and once again the club has made progress on all fronts. But that consistency and swagger that you need to win promotion has proved elusive. This game kind of encapsulated the whole season. Close, but not quite close enough.

Att: 5,621

Away: 886,

Report by Chris Williams

Stats by PA Sports

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