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  • Kick-off: 19:45
  • Venue: The Kassam Stadium
  • Attendance: 5392
  • Referee: Sutton, G

Live Commentary

90mins

That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.

85mins

Carlisle are replacing Raphael Nade with Derek Holmes.

85mins

Alan O'Brien is replaced by Simon Hackney.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 0.

45mins

The ref has blown his whistle for half time.

42mins

Jon Ashton goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

22mins

Goal!! Oxford have scored with Steve Basham putting it in the back of the net.

0mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

A first-half goal from Steve Basham brought Oxford victory and consigned Carlisle to a fourth successive defeat.

Basham finished off a beautifully-worked move in the 22nd minute when he turned in Eric Sabin's cutback from the right after Sabin had rounded Zigor Aranalde with a stunning turn of speed. It was Basham's first goal of the season.

But Oxford created few other clear-cut chances and Carlisle came back into the game and almost snatched a draw.

Karl Hawley's flicked header at a free-kick forced Oxford keeper Billy Turley into an acrobatic save as he touched the ball over the bar.

Then substitute Derek Holmes headed against the outside of the post. Carlisle had a third late opportunity when the pacy Simon Hackney won a race to the ball against Turley, who did well not to bring him down. When the ball ran loose, Hackney volleyed it wide of the near post.

For Oxford, who hung on grimly at the end, it was a third successive clean sheet and lifted them to sixth in the League Two table.

They were without striker Craig Davies, who was on Wales Under-21 international duty, and Chris Hackett, returning from a calf injury, didn't look fully fit.

Sabin was often caught offside, but the Frenchman went close when he cut in from the left and hit a fierce drive into the side-netting.

Lee Bradbury also had a long-range effort saved by keeper Kieren Westwood as Oxford enjoyed good spells of possession in the first half without creating many clear-cut openings.

Oxford United

Carlisle United

Corners

06

Fouls

1618

Goal attempts

1314

Shots off target

109

Offsides

53

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