Oxford Utd continued their unbeaten home run with a 1-0 win against league newcomers Yeovil at a sunny Kassam Stadium this afternoon. A Steve Basham strike in the first half was enough for the U's who made sure the Glovers left empty handed on their first visit to Oxford in the league

United made one change from the side that drew at Boston, with Jefferson Louis making his first start of the season replacing the unfortunate Andy Scott up front. Yeovil included Welsh Under 21 striker Kevin Gall in their starting line up, even though he played 60 minutes for the Welsh side yesterday.

Both sides started the game cautiously, with the early possession shared. United were content to soak up the early pressure and look to catch Yeovil on the break but were well in control of the game and looking the more likely to score.

They did just that on 12 minutes, when Paul Wanless won a free-kick 25 yards out from the visitor's goal. Dean Whitehead's free kick was charged down by the Yeovil wall, the ball deflected into the path of top scorer Steve Basham who turned superbly to fire the ball past Weale in the Yeovil goal from seven yards, to notch his seventh league goal of the season. The goal took Basham's total in all competitions to eight, which equals his goal tally from last year.

United were controlling the game, with Basham looking sharp up front and Paul Wanless dominating the midfield Oxford looked good value for their lead. Both Scott McNiven and Matty Robinsom were pushing forward at every opportunity with Robinson in particular catching the eye.

United should have doubled their lead on 29 minutes, when Basham rose unmarked to meet a McNiven cross, but saw Weale in the pull off a magnificent one handed save. Dean Whitehead following up appeared to be tripped by a Yeovil defender in the box but referee Stretton waved away United's shouts for a penalty.

Although the away side pushed forward, the United defence looked solid. In fact, having got the early goal, United were playing more like the away side and restricted Yeovil to only a handful of half chances in the first 45 minutes to go in at the break good value for their lead.

They also kept their record of not conceding at the Oxford Mail stand end of the ground this season.

There was one enforced change at the break with Andy Crosby resuming at centre back, and regaining the captain's armband as Paul McCarthy was forced off with an injury but the change didn't disrupt United at all.

Scott McNiven took advantage of the mayhem after a Louis challenge on the keeper to chip a shot at goal which was headed off the line on 50 minutes. The visitors look a lively side and Williams had an effort which drifted wide off his thigh on 56 minutes as they enjoyed their best spell of the game, but with Wanless and Hunt tigerish in the tackle in midfield United were solid and had a great chance on the break after an hour as Dean Whitehead led a three man charge but perhaps took the wrong option as he reached the edge of the box.

Yeovil replaced Gall on the hour, and Woodman needed to save well at the foot of his near post as Yeovil pushed for an equaliser, and Atkins replaced Louis with Mark Rawle to try and add that little bit of pace up front. At the same time, Yeovil lost their Way, with midfielder Darren forced off with a head injury, and at that moment the game had also lost its way with ref Stretton upsetting many fans with some of his decisions.

However few fans will have been complaining about the result as United withstood everything Yeovil could throw at them to emerge with another three points against a top seven team.

Oxford;
Woodman, McNiven, Robinson, Ashton, Bound, McCarthy (Crosby h/t), Wanless, Hunt, Whitehead, Basham (Townsley 88), Louis (Rawle 68)

Subs: Hackett, Brown, 

Yeovil;
Weale, Lockwood, Skiverton (Rodrigues H/T), Pluck, Way (Terry 68), Johnson, Gall (Edwards 61), Crittenden, O'Brien, Jackson, Williams

Subs: Stansfield, Collis,