Arkins takes honours at Oxford (story posted on 25/07/01)

United's pre-season build up continued on Tuesday night with a comfortable 1-0 win away at Division One side Oxford City. A number of players were rested by Alan Devonshire, including new signing Andy Rose, influential midfielder Matt Glynn and captain Tim Cook. Strikers Darren Grieves and Adrian Allen were unfit and Craig Webster unwell. Andy Morley and Lee Channell were on holiday.
The first half was very much a warm-up pre-season friendly with very little goalmouth action on an excellent surface. Magpies keeper Richard Barnard was very much a spectator as most of the play was compressed into City's end. New signing, striker Paul Scott, was a constant problem for the City defence and on 22 minutes made keeper Alan Foster dive to his left to block a shot. Ulasi was also causing problems down the left, being brought into the game by Paul Kelly, who looks as if he is also a very astute signing.
Scott nearly put the Magpies into the lead on 57 minutes when he turned quickly on the edge of the box only to fire straight at Foster. On the hour the ever dangerous Ulasi, who seems to have benefited from the Summer rest, made a 50 yard run down the left, slipped the ball to Scott who returned the pass to the wing back, but he failed to find the target. Steve Arkins, who partnered Scott up front, suddenly sparked into life and
on 67 minutes forced his way behind the flat footed City defence but he fired a shot into the side netting when he had two players unmarked in the box. On 76 minutes Arkins released Ferdinand down the right and his superb floated cross was met by triallist Anthony Hardy who forced a finger tip save from substitute keeper Paul Tassell.
The Magpies deservedly took the lead on 79 minutes when Steve Arkins collected the ball on the left edge of the area. The Irishman turned quickly and fired home a shot via the outstretched keeper's body. It was a
thoroughly deserved goal for Arkins who had worked tirelessly for the cause. The last fifteen minutes saw a flurry of substitutions and a chance for the management to see the likes of Simon Goodhram, Philip Goss, Anthony Hardy and another triallist, Eammon McConachie.
This was a thoroughly good work out for United and certainly emphasised the quality of new signings Kelly and Scott. There is also healthy competition for places - four wing-backs were used, with another two not taking part. Three strikers were used and three were unavailable. Defensively United looked comfortable with young Adam Durrant particularly impressing at the back and Barnard was his usual reliable self - on the odd occasion he was called into action.

Maidenhead : Barnard, Houston (Woodhouse), Craker, Durrant, Croxford, Kelly(Goodhram). Jarvis, Ferdinand(Goss), Scott (Hardy), Arkins, Ulasi (McConachie).