A last minute goal from Tommy Mooney gave United the double over Cheltenham, and ensured that Oxford won their first league game at Whaddon Road, with their first league goal there. Oxford had rode their luck at times, with the hosts hitting the bar at the end of the first half, and the post and bar in the second, but on the overall play the victory was probably just about deserved. Mooney’s goal came when the lively striker charged down an attempted clearance by mullet-man Shane Higgs. The ball fell to debutant Juan Pablo Raponi, whose left-wing cross was headed home by United’s jubilant leading scorer.

Horacio Rodriguez made two changes from the side that lost to Northampton last weekend. He brought in Raponi for his compatriot Lucas Cominelli, and swapped the suspended Leo Roget for the now recovered Jon Ashton. Oxford’s first change came with about quarter of an hour to go, when Steve Basham came on for Craig Davies, who had earlier missed the game’s best opportunity, prodding the ball wide with just Higgs to beat. With five minutes left Paul Wanless replaced Lee Bradbury, while Cominelli came on for Raponi when United were ahead.

The referee was Keith Stroud, who had a disappointing game. He showed yellow cards to Mateo Corbo, his fifth in six games, and Matt Robinson, who has also now picked up five bookings leaving them both suspended for the visit of Macclesfield on Wednesday. The attendance was 5,044, the lowest one yet in meetings between the sides, despite United fans selling-out the away end. A match report has been promised for tomorrow.

The win lifts United just one place, to 15th, although they are now just five points below the play-offs. Cheltenham slipped one place to ninth. Bottom club Cambridge lost 2-1 at Lincoln, who are now 5th, while second-bottom Kidderminster were 2-0 up, but lost 4-2 at 19th-placed Shrewsbury. Rushden stayed third from bottom, despite drawing 1-1 at 20th-placed Notts County, while Chester slipped to 4th from bottom after going down 2-0 at home to league leaders Yeovil.

Scunthorpe are second after they beat Leyton Orient 1-0, to leave the Os just one place ahead of Oxford. Third-placed Swansea were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Grimsby, allowing United’s opponents on Wednesday, Macclesfield, to draw level with them on points thanks to their 3-0 win over Rochdale, with Matthew Tipton hitting a hat-trick. Sixth-placed Southend beat seventh-placed Northampton 2-1 at Sixfields, to open up a five point gap between the clubs. Darlington moved up to 8th after drawing 1-1 at 10th-placed Wycombe. Mansfield won 2-0 at Bury, while Bristol Rovers were held 1-1 at home by Boston United, to allow Oxford to climb above the Gas.