Oxford finally achieved an away win after more than four months of trying, as they convincingly beat bottom side Tamworth[@opponent]Tamworth[/@opponent] 3-1 at the Lamb this afternoon. The win also earned United their first double of the season[@news]2072[/@news]. Oxford made all the early running in today's game, and after only 12 minutes Yemi Odubade made an excellent run into the area, jinking past a couple of challenges before shooting. The ball was heading into Jose Veiga's arms, but it took a couple of deflections and dribbled into the corner. Nine minutes later, Yemi earned a penalty for the Yellows after Veiga dropped the ball and then upended Yemi, who reacted quickest and reached the ball a fraction of a second before the goalkeeper, who was booked for his troubles. Rob Duffy stepped up to smack the ball straight into the middle of the goal as Veiga dived out of the way.

United continued to control most of the rest of the match, although they did allow the home side to peg them back slightly in the second half. However, the Lambs never really looked like scoring, and it was out of the blue when a shot from Matthew Williams beat Billy Turley in the first minute of injury time. This could have led to some nervous moments for United, but two minutes later Eddie Anaclet broke clear, and with support arriving, he lashed in a shot which easily beat Veiga to seal the result for the visitors.

Jim Smith named an unchanged side from the one that beat Gravesend & Northfleet last Saturday, the first time since the beginning of October that Smith has had that luxury. Unfortunately, the line-up had to change just after half an hour, when Matt Day replaced Barry Quinn, presumably suffering from an injury. With quarter of an hour remaining, Andy Burgess came on for Danny Rose, and four minutes from time Duffy went off to be replaced by Marvin Robinson.

Today's referee was Stuart Attwell, who was also in charge of United's 2-2 draw at Grays, just over a month ago. His performance wouldn't have pleased the home supporters, but he did get the big decisions right, despite waving play-on after Veiga clattered Rose in the second half. The game was often interrupted by his whistle, but he didn't take any action until a spate of yellow cards midway through the second half saw Chris Hargreaves and Day both in the referee's notebook. The attendance was 2,089, Tamworth's best gate of the season, and which included 854 in the away end. We have been promised a match report, possibly, which we hope will appear shortly.

Despite the victory, United remain ten points adrift of leaders Dagenham & Redbridge, who beat York City 2-1. This result sees the Minstermen drop to fourth, five points behind Oxford. Going above them on goal difference are Exeter City, who beat another play-off hopeful, Burton Albion, 3-0 to drop the Brewers down to eighth. Gravesend remain in the play-off zone, in fifth place, despite not having a Conference game. Instead, they lost 3-0 at Northwich Victoria in the FA Trophy. Morecambe were a goal down at Forest Green Rovers, but their 3-1 win lifts them up to sixth, while seventh-placed Stevenage Borough, who are United's next opponents, beat Salisbury City 3-0 in the Trophy.

Tamworth remain three points adrift at the foot of the table, with Grays Athletic now second from bottom. Grays play Welling tomorrow in the FA Trophy. Third-bottom Altrincham were without a match today, while Southport climbed above them to 21st place by virtue of their 2-2 draw at 19th-placed Cambridge United. St Albans are 20th after they lost 3-0 at home to Stafford Rangers, while Aldershot's play-off hopes continue to stutter as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Rushden & Diamonds. In the FA Trophy, Kidderminster Harriers beat Halifax Town 3-1.