Oxford United 2 AFC Wimbledon 0

Oxford United used up their game in hand tonight to good effect, opening a six-point gap over second-placed Stevenage Borough with a deserved, if occasionally nervy, win over play-off contenders Wimbledon. James Constable came right back into form, scoring both Oxford goals, one in each half.

As expected, many of Saturday's line-up failed to feature this evening, with Ryan Clarke replacing Billy Turley in goal, Rhys Day coming back into central defence in place of Mark Creighton, Anthony Tonkin ousting Kevin Sandwith, and Sam Deering in for Jamie Cook. The only real surprise was the omission of Damian Batt, with Adam Chapman taking over the right-back berth. Chris Wilder was forced into a change at half-time, after Clarke had taken a knock in an earlier collision, allowing Turley to clock up his first league appearance of the season. A second change was made with 13 minutes remaining, when John Grant came on for his Oxford debut after signing on loan from Aldershot this afternoon, replacing Matt Green. In the final minute of normal time Batt came on for Chapman.

As is their wont at home these days, United started on the front foot and had the Wombles in a defensive panic twice in the opening five minutes. The Us have been oft criticised this season for failing to score from corners, but two superlative deliveries, first from Simon Clist and then from Deering were headed narrowly over, first by Constable and then two minutes later by Day. Four minutes later Jamie Pullen made a good save from another Constable effort after the striker was set up by Deering. Wimbledon had their first chance three minutes later when some hesitant defending allowed Danny Kedwell in on goal, but Clarke anticipated well and came out to block. Just two minutes later United opened the scoring when he was again set up by Deering to shoot from 18 yards in off the post.

United almost had a second goal just a minute later when a right-wing cross from Green was glanced wide by Clist when a surer touch would surely have put the ball in the goal. As the half moved on, Wimbledon started to take the game to Oxford and had two or three half chances that they failed to capitalise on. The closest that Wimbledon came to a goal was shortly before the break, when a right-wing cross was headed against his own bar by Day.

Five minutes after the break a moment of inspiration from Deering almost brought a second goal, as his low free-kick around the defensive wall caught Pullen napping but hit the outside of the post. Then came a couple of moments that Green would probably rather forget; Pullen palmed away a shot from Clist right to Green's feet, but instead of taking a touch the striker hit the ball first time and saw it go well wide of the far post. Moments later Green found himself in the clear on the left of the area following a passing move among the best seen at the Kas in recent times. It required just a delicate dink over Pullen to score, but instead he opted for power and blasted the ball over. Before Oxford had an opportunity to rue these misses the visitors were reduced to ten men when Deering burst through and substitute Jay Conroy fouled him just outside the penalty area. It was a clear goalscoring opportunity and the defender had to walk.

Another fine effort from Deering from 25 yards forced Pullen into a full-length save to push the low goalbound shot away for a corner. A Chapman free kick then beat the wall but went the wrong side of the post as Oxford looked to turn their superiority into goals. United used the space provided by their diminished opponents to good effect, knocking the ball around nicely and preventing the visitors from settling on the ball in midfield.

Constable sealed the win with ten minutes remaining after being sent through by another excellent Deering pass. Constable tried to cut the ball back for Clist, free at the back of the area, but the pass was blocked. However, the rebound fell kindly for United's leading scorer and he smashed the ball past Pullen from a narrow angle to give the scoreline a greater respectability. There was still time for debutant Grant to head narrowly over from a cross by Clist, and a third goal would have been no more than the Us deserved.

This was a classy performance against an in-form promotion-chasing side, and it will send a clear signal of intent to the challengers that Oxford will not relinquish the top spot without a fight. For the first time in over a decade, it's fun to be an Oxford fan again.

Tonight's referee was Rob Lewis. He had possibly one of the best games seen from a Conference official, getting all the major and most of the minor decisions correct (such as when his assistant awarded a foul throw-in against Wimbledon but signalled for them to take it again. Er, no. Mr Lewis correctly awarded the throw to Oxford). To top off a good display he also refrained from booking any Oxford players, not that they gave him any opportunity to do so. The attendance was 6,250 of which a highly respectable 743 were in the away end.

Oxford are now six points clear of Stevenage and with a goal difference that is five better than Borough's, having both played the same number of games. Wimbledon have dropped to seventh, two points off the play-offs but having played a game more than most of their rivals. Stevenage are scheduled to visit 12th-placed Wrexham tomorrow. Only two other Conference games escaped the ravages of today's weather, with Kettering Town winning 3-1 at Tamworth to move into sixth place. Gateshead moved up to 19th thanks to a 1-0 win over tenth-placed Altrincham. Luton Town's game at home to Histon was called off, as was Grays Athletic's game against Hayes & Yeading United. In addition, Barrow's FA Trophy quarter-final against York City was postponed for the second time and is now scheduled to take place next Tuesday.

Oxford's next game is supposed to be away to Chester City this Saturday, but with Chester suspended from the competition and facing a vote on their expulsion, as recommended by the Conference Board, this Friday, the game is in severe doubt. Should the vote surprisingly (and, it has to be said, rather foolishly) survive the vote and remain in the competition, they are apparently preparing for the game to take place. We have our doubts that, even if they are not expelled, they will be able to host the match. Watch this space (unless you want to find out the result of the vote quickly, in which case there are almost certainly better spaces to be watched). [@news]2664[/@news][@opponent]afc wimbledon[/@opponent]