Grays Athletic 0 Oxford United 4

Oxford United comprehensively beat a very poor Grays Athletic side at the New Rec to put a decisive halt to talk of panic and lost plots. Chris Wilder rang the changes to the starting line-up, with some unexpected selections. Rhys Day started in defence in place of Mark Creighton, while both Sam Deering and Jack Midson were rewarded for their recent good form with starting places, while Matt Green was on the bench and Franny Green and Lee Fowler were both dropped from the squad.

Oxford started by far the stronger, and Ryan Clarke was a spectator for the first quarter of an hour. Grays featured Oxford rejects Alex Rhodes and Jamie Guy, neither of whom gave any reason to suggest that they should have been retained, with the lardy Guy particularly poor. Oxford had already had opportunities from James Constable and Midson before Damian Batt, playing against his old club, shot inches wide from a 30-yard free-kick. In the 19th minute United's dominance was rewarded with a scrappy goal when Simon Clist was on hand to force the ball home.

There followed a short spell of Grays pressure, their only concerted attacking threat of the game, which culminated with Simon Clist clearing the ball off the line from a scuffed Guy effort. United then took the game back to Grays and Batt again went close with another long-range shot. The half then settled down, with United looking more likely to create chances, Clist in particular playing well, but neither 'keeper was tested.

United started the second half in fine style, with Dannie Bulman feeding Potter, whose shot curled past Richard Martin and into the net with barely 15 seconds of the half elapsed. The goal ensured that United wouldn't suffer any nerves defending a slender lead, and was just desserts for their first-half dominance. Oxford continued to press, with Midson going close and Martin forced into an unorthodox save to deny Green, coming from behind the striker to punch clear with both hands. Deering, playing possibly his best game for United, then drove narrowly wide with Martin groping air, and Bulman forced a full-length save out of the 'keeper just as it looked like he'd scored his first goal for the club.

The third goal did eventually arrive, thanks to a mix-up in the Grays defence as Martin and Cameron Mawer both hesitated, allowing Constable to nip between them and steer the ball home from a very tight angle for his first in five games. The scoring still wasn't finished, as deep in injury time Green received the ball from Bulman and danced along the edge of the penalty area before thrashing the ball home to complete the rout. There could be no arguments that United didn't deserve this, and the scoreline merely reflected the Yellows' dominance, even though they played in white. It has to be said that Grays made the task so much easier, with more unforced errors than a failed Britain's Got Talent contestant. Nevertheless, in the past United have struggled to capitalise on the poverty of their opponents, but on this occasion they revelled in it, with the midfield trio of Bulman, Clist, and Deering ripping their opponents apart. No weak links.

Today's referee was Ian Cooper, last in charge of an Oxford game when United beat Altrincham 1-0 in October. He had a decent game, letting it flow but not afraid to bring play back if no advantage accrued. He also very obligingly didn't book any Oxford players. The official attendance was 1,136, of whom 622 were on the packed away terrace. This is the lowest crowd to have watched United so far this season, including in the FA Trophy.

The result leaves United in second place, hot on the heels of Conference leaders Stevenage Borough, who beat Kettering Town 2-0. Grays remain second from bottom, while Kettering are sixth, just one point off the play-offs. York City are third, four points behind Oxford, after winning 1-0 at Cambridge United. Mansfield Town have gone fourth after their 4-0 win over bottom side Chester City, leapfrogging AFC Wimbledon, who lost 1-0 at Wrexham.

Gateshead remain third from bottom after losing 1-0 at home to seventh-placed Luton Town, while Ebbsfleet United beat Forest Green Rovers 4-3 to climb above Rovers and out of the drop zone. Stefan Bailey was on target for Ebbsfleet. Eastbourne Borough remain 19th after drawing 1-1 at Tamworth. Rushden & Diamonds are 8th after beating 18th-placed Barrow 4-1; Jefferson Louis scored the first two goals, and Craig Farrell the third. In other games, Altrincham beat Hayes & Yeading United 3-2, Kidderminster Harriers drew 2-2 at Crawley Town, and Salisbury City beat Histon 3-0. [@news]2642[/@news][@opponent]grays athletic[/@opponent]