United got their play-off bid back on track this afternoon against a hapless Weymouth side[@opponent]Weymouth[/@opponent]. It took a while a-coming, but the final 4-1 scoreline, which was the same as that achieved by Raging Fever over the Weymouth supporters in the morning, was a fair reflection of the play, even though the last three goals came in a five minute spell towards the end of the second half.[@news]2104[/@news] Oxford even had a decent penalty shout waved away in the very first minute, when a wayward Gavin Johnson pass found its way through to Yemi Odubade, and United's Player of the Month raced through on Nicholas Jones. For some reason Yemi hesitated when he had the option to shoot, and a Terras defender got a tackle in. It looked like he took Yemi's legs, but nothing was given. After Simon Weatherstone shot tamely wide, Chris Hargreaves headed over from a corner, and then Chris Zebroski also headed over. Zebroski made amends in the 23rd minute, when he headed home from a Martin Foster corner for his first United goal. As United piled on the pressure, a Barry Quinn header was cleared off the line, and then Yemi shot over from seven yards when he should have hit the target. United's continual failure to take their chances yet again proved to be their undoing, as five minutes before the break Weymouth equalised, with Oxford again failing to deal with a set piece. Following the away side's first corner of the match, Rafael Nade shot home after a TinTin shot had been deflected into his path.

Oxford again started the second half with intent, with Yemi running at the Weymouth defence at every opportunity. He hit a shot straight at Jones, and with quarter of an hour to go the Terras' keeper made an outstanding save to deny Zebroski his second. Three minutes later, though, United scored the goal that their play had deserved, as Yemi whipped in a left-wing cross to be met perfectly by Hargreaves to restore United's lead. Two minutes later and it was 3-1 as a long throw-in from Matt Day was met by Marvin Robinson to head home. The fourth goal followed just three minutes later, and was another header from a set piece, this time Barry Quinn meeting Johnson's corner to score, the first time United have scored four goals in a game since beating Forest Green Rovers 5-1 on 6 October.

Jim Smith made four changes from the side that disappointingly lost at Northwich Victoria on Saturday. Skipper Phil Gilchrist returned to the defence, with Day making way, while Johnson came in to the side on the left of the defence in place of Rufus Brevett. In midfield, Eddie Anaclet started on the right, in place of Carl Pettefer, while up front Zebroski started, with Robinson starting on the bench. The first substitution saw Danny Rose replaced by Robinson, 20 minutes into the second half, while Day came on for Anaclet with quarter of an hour remaining. Luke Foster completed his comeback from a nasty head injury when he replaced Johnson with five minutes to go.

Today's referee was Oli Langford, who has previously taken charge of United's 1-0 win at Stafford Rangers, and the Boxing Day 0-0 draw with Woking. Apart from denying United the early penalty he had a good game, as indicated by the fact that we can't really remember much about him. He also refrained from booking any Oxford players, which was nice (although he did show Tintin a yellow card, silly boy). The attendance was a slightly disappointing 5,582, of whom just 292 came up from the seaside – can't think why their mates stayed away. We will publish a match report at some stage soon, all things being well.

The win keeps Oxford second, on 75 points, and within touching distance of securing their play-off place, while defeat ensures that Weymouth will definitely be playing Conference football again next season. Conference champions Dagenham & Redbridge surprisingly lost 4-2 at Cambridge United, despite being 2-0 up after just 11 minutes. The last two Cambridge goals were scored by Courtney Pitt[@player]Pitt, Courtney[/@player] and Rob Wolleaston[@player]Wolleaston, Rob[/@player], to lift the Us up to 18th, three points above the drop zone. Third-placed Morecambe kept level on points with Oxford thanks to a large score of their own, beating Halifax 4-0, to leave the Shaymen fourth from bottom. Exeter City moved up to fourth, four points behind Oxford, after winning 3-0 at Crawley Town. Fifth-placed York City play against Rushden & Diamonds tomorrow. Gravesend & Northfleet's 2-0 win at Altrincham moved them up to sixth, seven points behind United, while Burton Albion lost 3-1 at second-bottom Southport, despite being 1-0 up at half-time, to drop down to seventh, one point below Gravesend.

Stevenage Borough kept alive their fading play-off hopes by drawing 4-4 at Forest Green Rovers, where they were losing 3-1 at one stage. Stevenage are ninth, eight points behind York. Aldershot's equally faint hopes of a play-off place were revived thanks to beating fifth-bottom Stafford Rangers 4-2. At the other end of the table, St Albans, where United play on Saturday, had their relegation confirmed after they could only draw 1-1 at third-bottom Tamworth. Grays Athletic moved up to 19th after beating Northwich Victoria 1-0, while Kidderminster Harriers' 1-0 home defeat by Woking ended any play-off hopes that they might have harboured.