United go down in the wind and rain

On a blustery wet afternoon United lost the toss and found themselves kicking up the slope and enjoyed the opening exchanges with plenty of possession in the hosts’ half but just a single Rupen Limbu effort at Ryan Watt the only shot on goal to show for this advantage.

Injury to Oli Bridges requiring him to be substituted after ten minutes was followed by Bicester taking the lead against the run of play four minutes later when a cross was headed forwards to Kieran Scott who in turn had a free header at United’s goal.

The same player doubled the lead three minutes later when a shot rebounded of the cross bar and with Kriss Hemmings slow to react and clear, Scott poked the ball home.

United regained their composure with Limbu enjoying so good runs on the left while the midfield of Conor Creegan and Tyrone May were positive in helping the visitors play high up the pitch. However, the best efforts they could create where late in the half and fell to Limbu and Rayan Szram while Hemmings was required to clear a Bicester effort of his own goal line.

Looking to enjoy the second half playing down the slope, United found themselves having to play into driving rain and in the early stages of the half struggle to get into Bicester’s half and where indebted to good goalkeeping by Pete Davies to prevent a further score and Hemmings clearing a Burt deflection of the goal line. However, Davies was unable to prevent centre back Chris Burt heading a swirling cross into his own net on sixty three minutes.

Not to be deterred United were able to press forward and were rewarded two minutes later when Limbu scored from outside the penalty area. This lifted Woodley who began to extort pressure on the home team but even when Scott was beaten the ball stopped on the goal line as the pitch became sticky.

As the half progressed and the conditions deteriorated the game became stretched with players tiring and both sides were guilty of failing to score with Davies again being called on to clear a number of awkward crosses that caught in the wind.