Ebbsfleet United 0 Oxford United 2

Oxford enjoyed a comfortable, albeit somewhat scrappy, win at Ebbsfleet this afternoon, with two goals in two minutes midway through the first half earning the three points. There had been little action at either end before the goals, although Oxford had been doing most of the probing.

The first goal came after a long ball from Adam Murray into the right-wing channel was chased down by Matt Green, who used his strength to get past Jordan Collins and then prodded the ball past Lance Cronin. It seemed to take most of the first half, but the ball eventually nestled in the net. Murray and Green combined again for the second goal, a minute later. Green's cross was cleared as far as Simon Clist who smashed it past Cronin into the top of the net.

Although Ebbsfleet tried to get back into the game, they had little joy getting past the commanding United defence, with Mark Creighton once again reaffirming himself as a modern-day Matt Elliott. Debutant Jamie Cook tried an audacious lob over Cronin from the half-way line, and Cook, Green, and James Constable all kept the home defence busy.

After withstanding some mild Ebbsfleet pressure at the start of the second half United had a couple of opportunities to grab a third goal. Constable was denied by a last-ditch tackle by the otherwise disappointing Darius Charles, who gave no indication of why York City were so keen to sign him, and when Constable was set clear by Cook he shot straight at Cronin. At the other end Clarke had little to do. This wasn't a great performance, but United eased to victory without really getting out of third gear. They will have to play better than that to get a similar result from future games but for now it will do.

Chris Wilder gave a debut to Jamie Cook, coming into the side in place of Alfie Potter, but otherwise stuck with the same starting line-up that had performed so poorly against Forest Green Rovers last weekend. With 12 minutes remaining Jack Midson marked his return from injury by coming on for Constable, and with five minutes to go Kevin Sandwith replaced Cook, allowing Steven Kinniburgh, who again had a fine game at left back, to push up into midfield. Adam Chapman came on for Green in the final minute.

Today's referee was Nick Kinseley, who took charge of United's televised 3-1 win over Cambridge United last season. His performance was typical for an official at this level. The only Oxford player to be booked was Green. The attendance was a meagre 1,468, of whom a disappointing 506 were in the away end.

United's win allowed them to go three points clear at the top of the Conference as second-placed Mansfield Town were held to a 1-1 draw at 18th-placed Grays Athletic, for whom Jamie Slabber scored. Ebbsfleet remain fifth from bottom. United's visitors on Tuesday, Luton Town, were held to a 1-1 draw at Salisbury City, now second from bottom after their ten-point deduction for entering into administration. Kettering Town are fourth after they beat Altrincham 2-0, while Cambridge United went up to fifth place after a result that puts United's result last weekend into perspective. They beat Forest Green 7-0 to leave Rovers third from bottom. AFC Wimbledon are in sixth place after they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at eighth-placed Tamworth. Those two sides sandwich York, who beat Crawley Town 2-0.

Gateshead, fourth from bottom, had their game at home to 19th-placed Hayes & Yeading abandoned with the score 0-0 after new signing Martin Brittain suffered a broken leg that required lengthy treatment on the pitch. Chester City are still bottom, obviously, but they recorded their first win of the season by beating Histon 2-0. Rushden & Diamonds arguably had the best result of the day, winning 6-1 at Barrow, with Craig Farrell scoring twice, including the opening goal. Kidderminster Harriers were beaten 2-0 at home by Eastbourne Borough. [@news]2554[/@news][@opponent]ebbsfleet united[/@opponent]