Diamonds trumped

United are now unbeaten in eight games following their 2-0 win at Rushden & Diamonds this afternoon. During that time they have only conceded two goals, one from a corner and one penalty, and have won seven of those eight. Dave Savage's nifty footwork and cool finish opened the scoring for the Yellows after 13 minutes and David Oldfield's second goal in two games, a twenty yard volley after half an hour, concluded the scoring. Although United finished the first half looking more likely to score they came under sustained pressure for the following 45 minutes but stout defending and inspired goalkeeping from Andy Woodman ensured yet another clean sheet with which to end the year.

Ian Atkins made two changes to the starting line-up of the team that beat Bournemouth two days ago, Savage replacing the injured James Hunt in midfield and Oldfield coming into the front line in place of Jefferson Louis. Louis came on for Savage just after the hour mark to give Oxford some much-needed pace up front, with Oldfield dropping into midfield. Andy Scott then joined Louis in attack when he came on for the tiring Steve Basham and United's final substitution saw Bobby Ford go off for Dean Whitehead with just over ten minutes left.

The referee was Iain Williamson, taking charge of his first ever League game. He didn't do at all badly either, despite having a couple of tricky moments when tempers threatened to get out of hand. He was forced into booking two Oxford players, Andy Crosby and Scott McNiven, both of which were justified. The attendance was just 4,891 which is paltry considering that Rushden were top of the Division and United sold out of their allocation of 1,200 tickets. Check out the match report here.

This win lifts United into the automatic promotion places for the first time since the opening day of the season, the Us going up three places to third. Rushden were knocked off the top spot as Hartlepool beat Cambridge 3-0, the first time this season that they've failed to score. Oxford are now five points behind Rushden with a game in hand. Bournemouth are still fourth after they were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Rochdale. Bury, who dropped down to sixth, play Kidderminster at Gigg Lane tomorrow. The final play-off place is occupied by Torquay, who drew 1-1 at Darlington.

Swansea stay bottom after conceding an own goal in the last minute to lose 1-0 at Lincoln. Carlisle lost 2-1 at Orient to stay in the other relegation place while Exeter are third from bottom after drawing 1-1 at home with Macclesfield. The next two teams above Exeter, Bristol Rovers and Boston, drew 1-1 at the Memorial Stadium. The day's other game in the Third Division was a 1-1 draw between York City and Hull. United's next opponents, Southend, host Scunthorpe tomorrow when Wrexham also play Shrewsbury. If Bury beat Kidderminster tomorrow they will leapfrog Oxford, whilst Wrexham have to win 3-0 to go above United.

Mark Stein was on the scoresheet for Dagenham & Redbridge, scoring their third as they beat Margate 4-0. Matty Elliott scored Leicester's opener in their 2-1 win at Watford.