Joel Voysey

My first assignment for Rage Online started badly as queues for the car park were massive meaning I took my seat five minutes after kick off. South Stand upper was completely sold out too as yellows fans looked forward to another hugely important game under the floodlights. Dashing across the concourse I could hear loud applause for Fabrice Muamba as Oxford fans showed their own support for the Bolton midfielder.

There was also generous support for Jack Midson when the teams were read out on his return to the Kassam with the visitors. (I have it on good authority that all he tweets about is how much he loved his time at Oxford so you might say that the feeling is mutual – but don't score tonight Jack!)

It was interesting to see that Wilder had resisted the temptation to return Constable and Batt straight to the starting line up after their suspensions. Given his words about the importance of discipline in the run-in, it may be that the manager was sending a message to his squad as well rewarding the good performances of those who had come in to replace his first choice right back and the team's talisman.

With Whing a more than able deputy at full back and Chapman just in front of the back four (as well as having Davis back from injury), the defence looked solid enough. Further forward I was personally looking forward to seeing Morgan and Rendell for the first time in an Oxford shirt.

Once the game was underway, Oxford looked controlled and assured for the first ten minutes, building well from the back. Morgan was looking to get on the ball and was linking well with Rendell and Johnson in the early exchanges.

The first real chance came on 15 minutes with a ball whipped in from the right just evading a couple of U's attackers and then from the next move of note, Brown was off his line smartly to foil Rendell who was looking lively.

Knott fired over for the Dons after good approach play on 20 minutes as Wimbledon started to get a foothold in the game.

The game then meandered somewhat for much of the first half. You could tell that Wilder had been preaching patience to his team as they probed for openings but this possession game was played largely in front of the Wimbledon back line, with the home sides attacking players struggling to get on the same wavelength (understandably given their lack of playing time together).

Dubes was lucky to avoid a caution on the half hour but Oxford may count themselves even more fortunate that the referee didn't play on as the opposition had worked a good position and had a midfielder running through on goal. Soon after this the home players were irate at what they saw as diving in the box and then were further annoyed with the challenge on Clarke from the resulting corner. The game had come to life but it had little to do with the football being played!

There was danger shortly before the interval for Oxford as a questionable free kick was awarded on the edge of the box resulted in a training ground move going badly wrong. It summed the first half up in some ways. Lots of good ideas but little end product.

Wimbledon were showing themselves to be fairly adept on the counter and, following the breakdown of another Oxford attack they transferred the ball swiftly and worked a good shooting position deep inside the Oxford box. Clarke seemed reluctant to commit himself, fearing perhaps another swallow dive, but closed the angle successfully and pulled off the save.

Then Oxford came to life in the dying moments of the first half. Leven and Morgan with two nicely weighted through balls, first to release Johnson then Rendell, both coming to nothing but providing encouraging signs. Then a flurry of corners – one off the line, one over the bar, then Whing unmarked and four feet wide of the post with the header.

There was just time for a real scare right at the close as Dons winger Yussuf played a neat one two and curled a shot about a foot wide of Clarke's left hand post with the keeper scrambling.

Oxford fans were in full voice again and they did really well to stick with the team in a largely frustrating first half. It was great to see Oxford determined not to hoof the ball upfield and to show the patience needed to start moves again when space was closed down in front of them, but it did mean that some of the pace went from their play and it seemed clear that such a measured approach may not be enough to get all 3 points.

This must have been the message delivered at HT as the 2nd half began with much greater tempo with Chapman firing low from the edge of box and testing the keeper.

Then Hall pulled a tremendous save from the Dons keeper from the edge of box with Oxford really piling on the pressure. A string of corners followed and then a big handball shout – it wasn't going to be one of those nights was it?

Just before the hour, Dubes got the booking he might have had in the first half, taking one for the team after a strong Midson run from his own half.

Then at last the breakthrough came on 57 minutes. A good move across the Wimbledon box took a fortunate break off a defender and fell to Dean Morgan who took a touch and steadied himself before firing low to the keepers' right from just outside the six yard box on the angle. Good finish and just reward for an enterprising performance.

Oxford dropped deeper following the goal, with Wimbledon having more of the ball, without threatening the Oxford goal unduly.

A double substitution on 71 minutes saw the two bad lads (!) get on for the remainder of the game as Rendell and Morgan were withdrawn to warm applause.

Oxford hit the bar following a Leven corner flicked on to Johnson, then Hall headed straight into the keepers' arms from the next cross as Oxford looked to make the three points safe.

Right at the death Wimbledon had their best chance of the match. A free kick was awarded some 30 yards from goal in injury time. A sweet strike on goal brought a full length save from Clarke and there might even have been an Oxford arm involved in clearing the follow up – the important thing was that the referee didn't think so!

All in all then, a much harder fought victory than the reverse fixture in front of the cameras over the christmas period. Great to welcome the proper Wimbledon to the Kassam for the first time and onwards and upwards – particularly with Gillingham and Cheltenham both losing! 7th place is looking more probable than possible with each win and we are looming up fast on Cheltenham in 6th. One thing is for sure – no one will fancy a trip to the Kassam in the play-off semi-finals.

Attendance