Oxford United swept aside a very poor Altrincham side, to win 3-0 at Moss Lane this afternoon[@opponent]Altrincham[/@opponent] and to revive their hopes of a play-off place, at least. After an early scare, when Billy Turley dropped a cross, United went on to dominate the match, creating chance after chance, and the final scoreline should have been much more emphatic. Playing 3-5-2 again, Gavin Johnson had United's first chance after five minutes, heading straight at Stuart Coburn. After 20 minutes, Eddie Anaclet had a golden opportunity to open the scoring, but he shot into the side netting when it looked easier to score. Five minutes later, Anaclet did open the scoring, as his right-wing cross took a slight deflection to take it past Coburn, Yemi Odubade, and Marvin Robinson. Two minutes later Coburn had to be at his best to tip a 25-yard shot from Martin Foster around the post, and shortly afterwards Coburn made a more routine save from a Danny Rose free kick. Five minutes before the break on-loan Michael Corcoran scored his first goal for United when he ran on to head home a Rose corner. Robinson then had a brilliant chance to make the game safe before half time, but his free header from just six yards out was straight at Coburn.[@news]2085[/@news]

United started the second half in the same vein, and five minutes after the break Anaclet should have grabbed his second goal, but his header from a Johnson cross was wide. Quarter of an hour later, an Altrincham move broke down and Oxford moved forward with pace, but Yemi's shot was well saved by Coburn. As the game drew to its close, Robinson got on the end of an Andy Burgess cross to score his first Conference goal from six yards out. The stats show that United had 11 shot on target, and four off target, which is comforting, although the goal difference could have done with some of those shots going in.

Jim Smith was forced to make changes to the side that lost at home to Kidderminster last Tuesday. Leading scorer Rob Duffy was suspended after receiving his tenth booking of the season against Forest Green Rovers last Saturday, while captain Phil Gilchrist was injured. Barry Quinn was recovered from his own injury, and so replaced Gilchrist both on the roster and as skipper, with Corcoran and Luke Foster the other centre backs. Johnson was recalled in place of Rufus Brevett at left wing back. Anaclet returned to the team as right wing back, with Yemi moving up front to partner Robinson. With about ten minutes remaining, Matt Day came on for Anaclet, while five minutes later Burgess replaced the knackered Odubade, who had run himself into the ground. In the final minute Carl Pettefer replaced Martin Foster, and almost set up a second goal for Robinson with his first touch of the ball.

Today's referee was M Matadar, who prior to today had not had the privilege of officiating an Oxford United match. He somewhat blotted his copybook by showing a yellow card to Corcoran for a foul at the end of the first half, but otherwise he seemed to have a decent enough game. The attendance was 1,497, which was Alty's second best of the season, after their local derby with Northwich Victoria. We hope someone will be kind enough to furnish with a match report in the next day or two, so please feel free to send one in.

United's win cut the gap on leaders Dagenham & Redbridge to a still relatively unassailable nine points, after Daggers were held 1-1 at home by Forest Green Rovers, who are 13th. Altrincham remain 18th, just two points above the relegation places. Oxford increased their lead over third-placed York City to three points, after the Minstermen were held to a goalless draw at home by second-bottom St Albans. Exeter City moved up to fourth, eight points adrift of United, by beating Morecambe 1-0, to drop the Lancashire side down to sixth place, ten points below United, but with two games in hand. Burton Albion drop to fifth place after drawing 0-0 with eighth-placed Gravesend & Northfleet.

Southport remain two points adrift at the foot of the table after losing 1-0 at home to Weymouth, who moved up to ninth. Third-bottom Grays Athletic visited seventh-placed Stevenage Borough in the FA Trophy semi-final second leg, and lost 2-1 to the home side after extra time, to go out 3-1 on aggregate. This leaves Stevenage 12 points behind Oxford, but with four games in hand. Fourth-bottom Northwich Victoria were also involved in an FA Trophy semi-final, beating tenth-placed Kidderminster 3-2, but losing 4-3 on aggregate. Northwich now have eight games in hand on fifth-bottom Cambridge United, who drew 1-1 at 14th-placed Crawley Town. Tamworth are 19th after they beat United's next opponents, Halifax Town, 1-0 to leave the Shaymen in 17th place. Woking and Stafford Rangers drew 1-1.