To mark Oxford United’s 125th season, we are looking back at what made the news this week in three of the club's promotion-winning campaigns.

1964

OXFORD United were so much better than struggling Stockport County that the 2-0 scoreline came as an anti-climax.

Chances galore, including a penalty from Bill Calder, were missed in the second half, but it was the negative tactics of the visitors that put United out of their stride.

Stockport concentrated on a nine, or even ten-man defence, which deployed the offside trap with monotonous precision.

Calder opened the scoring from Cyril Beavon’s cross and Peter Knight doubled the lead before the break.

1984

OXFORD United fell a few inches short of Jim Smith’s ‘yardstick’ amid controversy at Maine Road.

Manager Smith said the vital match would give him an idea of the promotion potential of his side.

They lost 1-0, but deserved a draw, if only for their outstanding defence, who had to work hard throughout.

They were also hampered by mediocre refereeing, as not only did John Key deny United a late equaliser after originally giving it, but he ruled out two perfectly good penalty appeals.

But Steve Kinsey’s 87th-minute winner ended United’s super 23-match unbeaten run.

1995

QUEENS Park Rangers had a huge let-off at Loftus Road as Oxford United missed two marvellous chances to seal a place in the Coca-Cola Cup third round.

At the very end of normal time and then from the last moment of extra-time, United failed to put away what would have been a tie-winning second goal.

The night ended in glorious failure for Denis Smith’s brave Second Division battlers.

United were in front through Les Robinson’s first goal of the season, before Karl Ready equalised to make it 2-2 on aggregate.

Matt Murphy was denied late in normal time, but even though Kevin Gallen put Rangers ahead in extra-time United would have gone through if Chris Allen’s last-gasp free header had gone in.