Oxford United 2 Rushden & Diamonds 1

A superb second-half strike from Phil 'The Power' Trainer, after being set free by Yemi Odubade, wrapped up the three points for United this afternoon. Barry Quinn had given the Us the lead from a Chris Carruthers corner four minutes before half time, and Trainer double the margin nine minutes after the break. Typically, Oxford kept the supporters' nerves jangling by conceding a goal a minute later, as Daryl Clare shot home direct from a free kick to halve the deficit.

Oxford began the game at a good tempo, determined to give new chairman Kelvin Thomas a winning debut. United could have been three up in the first ten minutes, as Dale Roberts denied Jamie Guy and Trainer, while Trainer also had a couple of other chances, rebounds from the above two, that went narrowly wide. Roberts also denied the busy Lewis Haldane, playing up front alongside Guy. However, a Roberts mistake led to United's opening goal, as the Rushden keeper came for Carruthers' corner and missed the ball, allowing Quinn to head home.

United went two up in the 54th minute, as a ball prodded forward by Joe 'The Sherrif' Burnell was flicked on by Yemi into the path of the totally unmarked Trainer. The winger advanced to the edge of the area and then smashed the ball past Roberts. About a minute later, with the United fans still celebrating, the visitors were awarded a very dodgy free kick on the edge of the Oxford penalty area. Daryl Clare curled the ball around the wall and into the net. Rushden should have equalised ten minutes later when Leon Knight for once got clear of the Us defence. He took the ball around Billy Turley but Carruthers was covering magnificently to clear Knight's shot off the line. With 20 minutes to go, Guy should have extended Oxford's lead when he had a clear header from a Haldane cross, but the ball went well wide. Oxford continued to press, and as Guy chased a forward ball he was held back by the already-booked Gareth Jelleyman. The referee initially waved advantage, and as the ball was cleared for a corner he showed the Rushden defender a second yellow card, followed by the red. Haldane almost increased the margin of victory when he beat several defenders as he weaved his way across the edge of the Rushden penalty area before curling a left-footed shot that smashed against the crossbar. Rushden failed to offer any threat in the final few minutes, and Oxford saw the game out for a well-deserved three points. [@news]2377[/@news][@opponent]rushden & diamonds[/@opponent]

Darren Patterson made two changes, both enforced, to the side that lost so poorly at Lewes last Saturday. Recalled Brentford loan defender Karleigh Osborne was replaced by Quinn, while the injured James Constable's place was taken by Haldane. Patto made just one substitution, with Chris Willmott coming on for Quinn, who received a knock 20 minutes from time.

Today's referee was David Coote, who was the man in charge for last season's goalless draw at Grays Athletic. His performance wasn't the worst we've seen at Minchery Farm this season, but he still won't be going home covered in Yellow glory, mainly for his decision to book Yemi for diving after he appeared to be clipped by Sagi Burton. Today's attendance was United's biggest of the season so far, with 4,645 in the ground, of whom 4,293 were in the home sections.

The win lifts Oxford two places, to 18th, but they still remain just one point above the drop zone. Rushden are down to 11th place. Northwich Victoria remain bottom of the table after losing 2-1 at third-placed Kettering Town. Second-bottom Lewes drew 0-0 at third-bottom Grays, while Eastbourne Borough have fallen into the relegation places following their 3-2 defeat at 12th-placed Weymouth. Forest Green Rovers are fifth from bottom after they were beaten 3-2 at home by 13th-placed Wrexham, for whom Jefferson Louis scored the winner in the second minute of stoppage time. Woking's 1-0 win at seventh-placed Mansfield Town leaves them 19th.

Crawley Town remain top of the Conference, despite losing 2-1 at second-placed Burton Albion. The gap is now two points. Fourth-placed Kidderminster Harriers surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to 16th-placed Barrow, while Histon are fifth after beating 10th-placed Salisbury City 2-0. Cambridge United are sixth after drawing 0-0 at 15th-placed York City.

The Conference's other games saw Altrincham, who are one place above Oxford, beat ninth-placed Ebbsfleet United 2-0. Today's other fixture involved United's next opponents, Torquay United. The eighth-placed Devonians, whom the Us visit for the live TV game on Thursday, comprehensively beat 14th-placed Stevenage Borough 3-0, with Tim Sills scoring the second goal.