Oxford United 4 Ebbsfleet United 2

Two pieces of sublime skill from wee Elfie Potter, making just his sixth start of the season, ensured that Oxford cruised to victory against Ebbsfleet United, conquerors of Stevenage Borough last Tuesday. James Constable also got in on the act, scoring a brace to take his season's total to 17 goals as we reach the half-way mark of this campaign.

Oxford scored twice in the first ten minutes to take control of the game and ease any fears that Ebbsfleet might spring a surprise. The first goal was sublime, and underlined United's championship credentials, as if there were any doubt. Adam Chapman, who claimed two assists at Crawley Town on Tuesday, was heavily involved, exchanging passes with Onome Sodje and then setting Potter free. The diminutive winger cut inside the area and blasted the ball into the top corner for a spectacular opener. Five minutes later Constable was released by Simon Clist to beat Lance Cronin with a powerful angled shot.

Midway through the first half, Ryan Clarke was called into action for the first time, making a brilliant reflex save from a strong Magno Vieira header. However, it was United who were bossing the game, and Constable twice shot wide when in good positions and Potter and Sodje also went close.

Oxford came close to extending their lead at the start of the second half when a Sodje shot beat Cronin but found only the side netting. Twelve minutes after the break Ebbsfleet scored their first away goal for eight games, and they deserved it for their build-up play. Ishmael Welsh beat Chapman for pace, as he had been doing most of the afternoon, and Vieira squeezed the cross in at the near post. However, it took just four minutes for the Us to restore their two-goal advantage, and it was a beauty from Potter, whose long-range chip was touched into the net by Cronin's fingertips. Constable made the points secure seven minutes later, benefitting from a lucky rebound after Cronin parried Potter's shot straight to him. Again the quality of goal came from the build-up play as much as the finish. Ebbsfleet, to their credit, continued to come at Oxford, and got a deserved second goal with two minutes remaining. Scott Ginty beating Clarke from the edge of the area after some uncharacteristically sloppy defending. Oxford had plenty of opportunities to add to their tally, with Franny Green twice going close, but in the end this was a professional job done well, and United are looking strong all over, and on course for the title.

United started with a totally different front line to that at Crawley. Constable started ahead of Jack Midson, Sodje took fellow loanee Franny Green's place, and Potter was preferred to Jamie Cook. The first substitution came on the hour, when Damian Batt replaced Chapman in order to successfully nullify the threat of Welsh's pace. With 20 minutes to go Constable, having done his job, was rested with Franny Green replacing him. Batt himself was taken off with ten minutes remaining, with Welsh having gone off and Batt still obviously injured. Midson was his replacement, while Ross Perry moved to right back, Kevin Sandwith went into the middle, and Simon Clist dropped to left back.

Today's referee was our old friend Andy Hendley, who last reffed an Oxford game when they won 2-0 at Woking at the end of last season, but will be more readily remembered by Oxford fans for awarding Altrincham a last-minute penalty that never was three seasons ago. He had a relatively decent game today, showing no cards Us-wards and generally letting the game flow apart from an odd few minutes towards the end of the first half when he whistled every time two players touched each other. The attendance was a slightly disappointing 5,188, of whom just 67 were representing Kent.

The three points maintains United's five-point advantage at the top of the table, as second-placed Stevenage beat Kidderminster Harriers 2-0, with Jon Ashton scoring the first. Ebbsfleet have dropped one place to second-bottom, while Kidderminster are ninth. York City stay third after their 2-1 win over Wrexham, in which Chris Carruthers scored the opener, while fourth-placed Mansfield Town were held to a goalless draw at home to fourth-bottom Grays Athletic. Kettering Town are still fifth, despite losing 2-1 at home to Salisbury City, now in 18th place. AFC Wimbledon remain sixth after beating 19th-placed Gateshead 2-0, while Luton are seventh after drawing 0-0 at bottom side Chester City.

Forest Green Rovers moved up to third from bottom after beating eighth-placed Rushden & Diamonds 1-0, while fifth-bottom Eastbourne Borough drew 2-2 with Cambridge United. United visit Barrow on Tuesday for their FA Cup second round replay, and scouts will have seen the Bluebirds held to a 1-1 draw by Hayes & Yeading. Histon and Altrincham fought out a 0-0 draw, while Crawley bounced back from Tuesday's defeat by Oxford to win 1-0 at Tamworth. [@news]2608[/@news] [@opponent]ebbsfleet united[/@opponent]