Altrincham 0 Oxford United 1

Oxford came through a stiff challenge at Moss Lane to deservedly take all three points, courtesy of a James Constable header following a corner eight minutes after half-time. United dominated for large parts of the game, could and should have scored more, but in the end were left hanging on and grateful for the referee's whistle.

Chris Wilder made just one change to the starting line-up from the 1-0 win over Salisbury City on Monday, with Sam Deering starting on the left-wing in place of left-back Kevin Sandwith, with Anthony Tonkin playing in his more usual defensive position. Twenty minutes after the break Matt Green replaced Jack Midson up front, and ten minutes later former Altrincham midfielder Lewis Chalmers came on for Franny Green. With ten minutes remaining Sandwith replaced Deering as United looked to tighten up at the back.

United dominated the first 25 minutes and could have scored through Constable and Franny Green, whose acrobatic overhead kick from a Damian Batt cross went narrowly over. However, the home side defended well without threatening to relieve the pressure. United again disappointed from set pieces, not so much the delivery as the way they failed to attack the ball, and as the half got progressively scrappier the frustration started to grow. Midson did get the ball in the net after 20 minutes but was, rightly, adjudged offside.

As Altrincham began to break out of United's grip their chances started to come, and Batt needed to block a Colin Little effort. United came closest to scoring when Midson was on the end of an Adam Chapman corner but his header came back off the bar.

It was from another Chapman corner that United won the game. Mark Creighton flicked the ball on and Constable was there to power the ball home for Oxford's first goal from a corner since Matty Elliott left (ish). There were precious few scoring chances in the remainder of the game, although Constable did have one powerful shot blocked while at the other end Robbie Williams needed Ryan Clarke's intervention to prevent an equaliser.

Overall, this was a welcome three points and should go a long way to lifting the players' confidence ahead of the play-offs. However, there will be concerns about the side's profligacy in front of goal and about how difficult they found it to break down Altrincham's massed defence.

This afternoon's match official was Jake Collin, who took charge of United's 1-1 draw at Barrow in October. He had a decent game, allowing play to flow and generally making sensible decisions. He did rather thoughtlessly book Dannie Bulman, though. The attendance in Cheshire was 1,356 with 368 in the open away terrace soaking up the rays.

The win keeps United in third place, which is looking increasingly like their final position, while Altrincham drop to 12th. Stevenage Borough took a giant stride towards the Conference title when they beat third-bottom Forest Green Rovers 2-0. This takes them four points clear of Luton Town, surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at Tamworth, having played a game fewer. United are four points behind Luton, having also played one game fewer. Forest Green are now three points from safety.

Rushden & Diamonds went back up to fourth place thanks to beating second-bottom Ebbsfleet United 2-0. This leaves Rushden four points behind Oxford having played one game more, with Ebbsfleet four points from safety with only two games remaining. The other team that will contest the play-offs is York City, who lost 3-1 at fifth-bottom Eastbourne Borough, who are now four points above the drop-zone, but they only have two games to play. York are now ten points clear of AFC Wimbledon, their closest challengers.

Wimbledon won 1-0 at Mansfield, but with only three games left they cannot now catch York. Nor can seventh-placed Kettering Town, who didn't play today, meaning that only Crawley Town, in eighth place, have a faint chance of upsetting the play-off apple-cart; they won 1-0 at Histon thanks to a goal from Eddie Hutchinson, and are now 12 points, and a far inferior goal difference, behind York with four games to go.

Bottom team Grays Athletic, already relegated, lost 2-0 to Wrexham, while fourth-bottom Gateshead also went down 2-0 at home, to Kidderminster Harriers. Barrow climbed to six points from the drop zone after drawing 1-1 at Hayes & Yeading United, Phil Bolland on target for Barrow for the second time in successive games. United's next game is on Tuesday, at home to Cambridge United who were beaten 2-1 at Salisbury City. [@news]2698[/@news][@opponent]altrincham[/@opponent]