Oxford United ran up their best score of the season this afternoon against a hapless Farsley Celtic. It is no exaggeration to claim that the scoreline flattered the visitors, as rarely can United have so dominated a game and come away disappointed not to have scored more than five. The 5-1 scoreline is United's best win since the game at Forest Green Rovers on 6 October 2006, and the best home win since beating Northwich Victoria on 26 August 2006, both by the same score.[@news]2302[/@news][@opponent]farsley celtic[/@opponent]

United got a flying start when a long clearance from Barry Quinn was flicked on, Rob Duffy style, by Craig McAllister for Yemi Odubade to run on to. Yemi outpaced the two covering defenders and finished clinically past Curtis Aspden to give the Us a third-minute lead. After this Oxford created chance after chance, with Phil Trainer hitting the post direct from a free kick after Yemi had been fouled on the edge of the area. Eddie Anaclet then ran through to reach the ball before the onrushing Aspden and his instant cross was met by McAllister, whose header smashed against the post. Another chance came just after the half hour, when this time it was Yemi who beat the onrushing Aspden and his lob over the goalie spun agonisingly wide of the post. Five minutes before the break Yemi was brought down again on the edge of the area, and this time Trainer's free kick, from almost exactly the same spot, curled past Aspden to give United a much-needed cushion before the break. It had been a totally one-sided half, with Billy Turley's only save coming from a sliced Luke Foster clearance.

The second half was only a couple of minutes old when Farsley astonishingly found themselves back in the game. Barry Quinn was adjudged to have committed a foul on the edge of the area, dead centre, and substitute Simon Bambrook curled the ball around the wall and past the stationary Turley. United almost responded immediately, as Yemi was brought down by James Knowles, who was dismissed for being the last man. Adam Murray took the penalty, but Aspden guessed correctly and dived to his right to push the ball away for a corner. Aspden then kept Farsley in the game by saving well from a Trainer shot, as Turley went back into spectator mode. With around 20 minutes remaining United restored their two-goal cushion, Matt Green converting a Michael Howard cross, and that signalled the end of whatever slight resistance the visitors had offered. Ten minutes later United had a lucky escape as Quinn looked to have brought down a Farsley player in the area, but the referee waved play on, and Oxford immediately went up the other end and won a penalty of their own as former U Georges Santos brought down Yemi. This time Murray made no mistake as his spot kick comprehensively beat Aspden. There was still time for one more as Green nabbed his second after the Celtic goalie had once more gone walkabout and the on-loan striker coolly beat the two men on the line to complete the rout. It would be easy to dismiss this result as being against a part-time side reduced to ten men for most of the second half, but that would be unfair on an Oxford side that has too often lost in these sorts of circumstances, and who totally outplayed a side that is still fighting the threat of relegation.

Darren Patterson made two changes to the side that lost 3-2 at Torquay United last Tuesday. The defence remained the same, meaning that Matt Day kept his place at right back at the expense of James Clarke, but Jamie Hand was dropped from midfield, with Eddie Hutchinson getting a rare run out, while Yemi came into the starting line up, with Green dropping to the bench. Fifteen minutes into the second half Green came on for McAllister, making his achievement of scoring twice even better. Six minutes later Danny Rose came on for a rare appearance, replacing Trainer, while with a couple of minutes to go Justin Richards replaced Yemi, the transfer-listed striker leaving the pitch to a standing ovation.

Today's referee was Ian Cooper, the fortunate official taking charge of an Oxford game for the first time. He didn't appear too overawed by the occasion, and generally did okay, although he really should have awarded Farsley a penalty shortly before Oxford's second spot kick. We won't hold that against him, though. The attendance for United's final Saturday home fixture of the season was 4,266, all bar 39 of them in the home stands. This must surely rank as the lowest recorded away attendance at an Oxford home competitive match, mustn't it?

United remain 13th in the table, while Farsley have dropped one place to 19th, just one point above the drop zone. At the bottom, Droylsden's game against Ebbsfleet United was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. This allowed Stafford Rangers to move off the bottom with a fantastic 2-1 win at third-placed Cambridge United. Northwich Victoria dropped back into the relegation places with a 2-1 defeat at fifth-placed Exeter City, while Weymouth occupy the final relegation spot after drawing 1-1 at Crawley Town, with Simon Weatherstone putting the Terras ahead. Halifax are in 20th place, level on points with Weymouth, after drawing 3-3 at Grays Athletic, in a game that saw three different Taylors on the scoresheet. The other side in danger of the drop, Altrincham, climbed to 19th after beating Salisbury City 3-1.

Aldershot are now within a point of securing automatic promotion thanks to a 1-0 win over sixth-placed Burton Albion. Torquay United are still second, fifteen points adrift after three ex-Us scored to give them a 3-1 win at fourth-placed Stevenage Borough. Chris Hargreaves scored the Gulls' equaliser, Chris Zebroski put them ahead, and a Tim Sills penalty secured the points. United's next opponents, York City, lost 3-2 at home to Woking, and had three players sent off as well, those naughty Minstermen. Andy Burgess scored the goal that gave Rushden & Diamonds a 1-0 win at Forest Green Rovers, and Kidderminster Harriers and Histon drew 1-1 (with each other).