Latics beaten on opening day

Photo: Alan Howarth

CLOSE . . . Craig Davies

ATHLETIC 0, OXFORD 2

GOALS from Wes Thomas and Josh Ruffels punctured pre-season optimism as Athletic were well-beaten on the opening day.

Thomas raced past an offside trap to place a low shot home in the 39th minute.
And the game was tied up for the classy visitors when Ruffles shot home with a well-placed effort after 71 minutes.

On a sunny afternoon to start the season with, it was a tentative start from both side with chances at a premium.

Craig Davies had a promising opening in the 37th minute. Set in behind the back four, he took a bouncing ball early and didn't quite catch it properly, allowing Simon Eastwood time to scramble to his left to push the ball out.

Two minutes later, Thomas put Oxford in front. Joe Rothwell's pass was perfectly measured and though there were loud appeals for offside, Thomas latched on to the ball and slotted carefully to the right of new Athletic goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

Oxford went close to making it 2-0 at the start of the second half when a superb passing move ended with Wilson saving very smartly from Jack Payne, while at the other end Paul Green failed to connect with his left foot from an inviting Rob Hunt cut-back.

Substitute Tope Obadeyi sliced wildly over the bar in the 69th minute as Athletic applied pressure to try to get back into the game.

But Ruffels poked home clinically from on the penalty spot two minutes later from a clever pass by Payne.

Athletic could have been handed a late penalty when Chris Ribeiro appeared to handle the ball out of play when he fell to the ground.

But referee David Webb signalled instead for a corner kick and Oxford were left celebrating a first-ever win at SportsDirect.com Park.