A header from Kevin Sandwith eight minutes from time earned a makeshift United side a deserved win over Wrexham, as Oxford completed the double over the Welsh side for the first time. However, the real story tonight was the appearance of Billy Turley in goal for his first Conference start of the season. Needless to say, Turley stole the show with a spectacular last minute save from a Wrexham free-kick.

In addition to Turley replacing Supporters' Player of the Season Ryan Clarke, Chris Wilder rang the changes as he looks to get the whole squad game time before the play-offs. Rhys Day came in for Mark Creighton in central defence, while there were starts for both Alfie Potter and Sam Deering; Potter replaced leading scorer James Constable and Deering started in place of Simon Clist. In central midfield Lewis Chalmers took Dannie Bulman's place. The first substitution was made just after the hour, when Bulman took Chalmers' place, while in the final minute of normal time Matt Green was taken off to allow Aaron Woodley a rare appearance.

Oxford won the toss and chose to attack the East Stand in the first half, with the setting sun full in the face of Wrexham 'keeper Chris Maxwell. The opening period was scrappy, inevitably given that both sides were fielding unfamiliar line-ups, but United came closest to opening the scoring when Maxwell had to get down quickly to turn an angled Matt Green drive round the post. That aside, neither goalie was forced into action in the opening half that was played combatively by both sides.

Oxford opened the second period on the front foot, with Day heading over and Chalmers shooting wide with a speculative effort. However, for all their excellent build-up play, Oxford's final ball was lacking and chances were few and far between. With 20 minutes remaining Oxford almost broke the deadlock when Matt Green turned and shot against the crossbar with Maxwell beaten. United got their goal when right-back Damian Batt swung over a cross to the far post which was met by left-back Sandwith to head the ball across Maxwell and into the net. Oxford still looked lively, but the visitors almost scored an unlikely equaliser right at the end of the four minutes of stoppage time, after Deering was bizarrely judged to have fouled Trinidad & Tobago international Silvio Spann. Wes Baynes shot was heading goalwards, but Turley dived full length to push the ball against the inside of his right-hand post, judging the spin just right for the ball to rebound across the goal where Jake Wright scrambled it away.

Although this result wasn't particularly important in the greater scheme of things, it was good that Oxford put in a decent performance despite fielding a makeshift side, and kept another clean sheet into the bargain. With just one game remaining before the play-offs, the Us look to have hit a decent run of form at just the right time.

Tonight's referee was Ian Smedley, taking charge of his sixth Oxford game, the most recent of which was United's 3-1 win at Chelmsford City in the FA Trophy at the end of January. United have never lost when Smedley's been in charge, although he didn't really do Oxford any favours this evening, allowing Wrexham's physical challenges to go largely unpunished and missing a number of blatant shoves, elbows, and even handballs. He also booked Chalmers, the cad. The attendance this evening was just 4,745 as fans start to save their money for the play-offs. Wrexham brought just 86 fans, a very apt number considering the date!

The win takes Oxford to just one point behind second-placed Luton Town, with only three points remaining to be fought for. Champions Stevenage Borough won 1-0 at Gateshead, leaving the Heed third bottom and one point adrift of United's opponents on Saturday, Eastbourne Borough. This means that Tamworth's 1-0 win at AFC Wimbledon and Barrow's 2-1 win at Kidderminster Harriers, both of which would have ensured safety for the victors, were ultimately unnecessary. Elsewhere, Salisbury City leapfrogged Altrincham after beating them 4-1, while sixth-placed Kettering Town drew 1-1 with seventh-placed Crawley Town, with John Dempster scoring for the Poppies. [@news]2705[/@news] [@opponent]wrexham[/@opponent]