Oxford United 1 Stockport County 0 ( Football League 1 ) Tuesday 27 October 2026

County came up against a side on top form in Aaron Ramsey`s Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium tonight – they struggled, but just about survived intact for 30 odd minutes, only to then lose the game due to contentious decisions taken by the officials in charge of the game who allowed a blatantly offside goal scored by U`s Mark Harris to stand.

The issue was that Siriki Dembele received a pass whilst a couple of yards offside- I saw it …several hundred other County supporters saw it too, but it mattered not that, first off, the yellow flagged liner apparently did not, which was entirely unsurprising as he was way…way behind play- Referee Stephen Parkinson just rubber stamped the liners incompetence and County were dished!

In other circumstances I would be applauding the U`s to the hilt as their forward play, done at outstanding speeds, looked really on the money, and made County`s defence work as hard as they have been asked to do all season so far to keep up.

But…when push came to pull, despite working hard, County just lacked that vital spark where it mattered after the hammer blow of the offside `goal`, and in the end that factor decided the destination of the points almost as much as the afore mentioned blatant injustice!

………………………………….

County were under the cosh early doors as Luka Lynch showed outstanding pace to shake off Ethan Pye`s attentions and get a cross over that was put away by Mark Harris . But Harris was offside , and it was good to see the near side liner see this clearly and raise his flag to cancel the `goal` out- he was entirely correct in doing so!

That looked really dangerous from U`s, but County were not cowed, indeed Glover was `up and at `em` almost immediately- his shot going close but drifting wide - County`s number 15 going close again within seconds.

Louie Sibley was next U to test County`s fibre, breaking through at speed and looking the part until he didn`t and the persevering Ethan Pye took the ball from him!

The pressure continued from Oxford – O`Connell doing really well, for County, to block Mark Harris’s progress!

Andresson , getting a rare start, saw a shot bounce out of play after U`s had been put in difficulties via a cross by Osborn, but Ben`s input was fairly mixed tonight and that first sortie was his best contribution by far.

Mamadoe Jobe had just snuffed out a raid by County`s opponents, and the Black shirted blues were on the attack- started by Norwood who fed Andresson . The Iceman`s shot on the turn was saved well by home keeper Jamie Cumming, but the corner that followed resulted in a break up the park by U`s , and Harris looked on to embarrass County until Bate , who had covered his break, stopped Harris in his tracks with a superb saving tackle.

This was a cracking game – the atmosphere was absolutely electric, and County`s support was up in noisy acknowledgement that County were trying hard to solve the real problems that U`s were setting them.

If only County could nick a goal!!!!

But hard as they tried ,the home defence stayed intact- Andresson again getting into a decent position before seeking Wootton out, but the County top scorer could not force the ball home from close in.

The play then switched ends and County were struggling to contain the U`s pacy forward play, to the extent that Pye found himself compelled to foul Harris just outside the box. This was scoreable for sure and a definite chance for Oxford, but their undoing was a familiar one- they were caught offside!

The Oxford press continued – Jobe doing well for County to usher a cross by Peter Kioso clear under pressure!

Then it all went a touch ridiculous- as a ball out wide by U`s arrived at Dembele`s feet, and he was a couple of yards clear of the closest defender when the pass was made , so clearly offside , but play went on nevertheless, as I looked left to see the liner was well behind play and showing no sign of catching up with it.

I was dumbstruck and more so as Dembele picked Harris out with his cross and he forced the ball home as he had done in vain earlier.

This time however no flag was raised…the Referee signalled goal and the away end just went AS!!!!!

That was abysmally poor work by the officials and once again we found ourselves losing vital promotion matches because officials were unable to correctly, and with justice, administer the existing FA Rule book, particularly the portion appertaining to offside.

County had an uphill struggle ahead of them – we have seen them 1-0 down before this season and watched, with pleasure, as they came back to win- more than once.

Would they do so again on this occasion though?

Well, for a time things looked not all that encouraging as, under pressure ,Norwood fouled Lynch , again setting U`s up with a rather scoreable chance from the free kick.

It really did look scoreable- County`s wall stood firm however, but the kick took a wicked deflection off the wall heading toward`s the County net where Ollie Whatmuff did the biz ,heroically pulling off a mighty save, when he could hardly have seen the ball for more than the smallest fraction of a second- excellent work by the young County keeper.

It went on…..U`s attacking- Lynch picking Harris out with a dangerous cross – Harris was offside though, but not according to the officials and it was left to Whatmuff to again produce some last-ditch heroics and make an outstanding save to deny the U`s number 9.

The officiating was now beyond distressing, as I awaited half time with something close to anxiety!

County tried in what remained of the first half- Andresson close twice before added time- County winning a corner in the 1 minute of added time that followed, watching forlornly as Cumming claimed the ball from the kick to end the half!

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Jimmy Mac had made changes in County`s line up when the game re-started after the break – Fiorini and Ennis coming on for Norwood and Osborn.

Ennis was all energy and, in the action, straight away, but County`s forward push soon abated- as U`s put them under considerable pressure for close to 5 minutes but crucially without adding to their first half goal.

By this time Ennis had warmed up and looked good down the right flank where, in combination with Wood, he shredded the home defensive cover- getting pulled down for his pains as he surged towards the box. Fiorini took the kick but without over stressing the home back line that survived the experience without difficulty.

But that did not dismay Ennis who made it to the by-line, getting a cross over that Michal Helik kept from Andresson with some excellent defending. It was a corner though and big trouble for Oxford as an unseemly melee ensued in front of Cumming s goal - Ennis seeing a shot charged down, a follow up by Andresson , from a tight angle, kept out by Cummings` good work, but midst the melee a clear `hand to ball ` moment by a harassed defender , in the box, went unnoticed by the officials- the County support saw it and told the officials as much- to no avail!

The passing of another 2 minutes saw U`s reply via Branagan but his shot was blocked preventing it reaching Whatmuff.

Then more angst ensued, almost on the hour, as Glover surged into the box -not testing the keeper in doing so, but causing max confusion in the U`s defensive ranks where again a yellow shirted hand caressed the ball briefly in the box. Again County`s following saw it…..knew it was a penalty….. told the world it was so, but the referee thought otherwise allowing play to continue and Oxford to survive intact again.

That was depressingly bad, but sadly so…...so typical of County`s fortune in many vital matches oft times!

Ennis, Glover and Wood worked hard next to rake something from the apparent ashes of County`s fortunes in this match, but without impact.

Meanwhile U`s bided their time and hit County on the break with typical speed, but , well set, Dembele fluffed what was a real chance.

Beyond the hour and County rang the changes again bringing Diamond and Adigun on for Wood and Andresson.

But it was Oxford doing the attacking winning a free kick that County defended well……working another real chance for themselves, with 20 minutes left, a chance missed by Gatlin Odonkur, smack in front of goal.

Mandron for Bate was County`s last throw of the dice, and Mandron went close quickly , via a Adigun assist. It stayed 0-1 in U`s favour, but still County`s large following urged their team on!

U`s were making County`s evening an uncomfortable one- winning a free kick in a central position- the kick beat the wall this time and headed goalward- the home specs seemed to sense a second U`s goal- they were wrong as Whatmuff threw himself to his left to pull off a terrific save and keep matters notionally sortable at 0-1.

And it was …Ennis was still trying… getting the ball from wide to Wootton in front of goal, but the ball stayed out and the chance was gone in a trice!

County pressed…pressed and pressed again into 3 minutes added time, until the referee blew his whistle for full time, and they could press no more!

In the end the game probably had too much tension that spoiled some exciting football.

I can see U`s doing well, even going up, its up to County to see that we go up with them without recourse to play-offs.

We have done much of the prep work we just now need to steady our ship and find our attacking mojo again starting at Edgeley Park this Saturday!

See you there!

Oxford United line up :-

Cumming, Brown, Helik, Brannagan, Harris, Goodrham (Emakhu 64), Lynch (O’Donkor 64), Dembele, Currie (Spencer 73), Kioso, Sibley (Andrews 64)

Unused Subs: Eastwood, Long, Missanga

Stockport County line up :-

Whatmuff , Jobe, O’Connell, Pye, Glover, Bate (Mandron 71), Norwood (Fiorini 46), Osborn (Ennis 46), Wood (Adigun 66), Andrésson (Diamond,66), Wootton.

Unused Subs: Dacres-Cogley, C. Gardner.

Attendance: 9,606 (739 )

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