Oxford United 2 Mansfield Town 0

Oxford eased to victory over a disappointing Mansfield side this afternoon. Two second-half goals from leading scorer James Constable did the damage, although any number of United players could have found themselves on the scoresheet as the Us battered the Stags.

United made just one change to the side that started in Tuesday's dour goalless draw with Cambridge United, Jack Midson starting in a front three alongside Constable and Matt Green, with Franny Green dropping to the bench. Oxford turned up the heat eight minutes after half-time, when Alfie Potter came on for Matt Green, and five minutes later made an enforced change as Mark Creighton left the field nursing his back, with Rhys Day taking his place. Another four minutes elapsed before Dannie Bulman, awarded the Players' Player of the Season award before kick-off, was taken off for Sam Deering.

Oxford started on the front foot, with both Green and Constable having goal attempts in the first five minutes, and an Adam Chapman long-range shot heading straight into Alan Marriott's midriff. Chapman again brought a save out of Marriott ten minutes before the break, when his curling shot from the corner of the penalty area looked to be heading for the top corner before the goalkeeper managed to tip it away. Five minutes later Kevin Sandwith should have done much better with a free header at the far post from a Chapman corner, but he nodded the ball a foot over. United had dominated the first half, with Rob Duffy failing to trouble Ryan Clarke, although the lively Jake Speight looked more likely to make something happen for the visitors.

The first decent attempt of the second half came just after Potter's appearance, as he wriggled through a couple of half-challenges and shot straight at Marriott. Damian Batt, having his best game for a long time, had a shot that went a foot wide and into the side-netting, and the feat was repeated by Potter 20 minutes from time. A couple of minutes later Potter forced a low save from Marriott, diving to his left, as the ball looked to be sneaking in at the near post. In the 73rd minute United eventually got the goal that they deserved; Potter went past Andy Burgess as though he wasn't there (which most of the game he wasn't) and set Deering free, whose advance was halted by Marriott with the ball running free for Constable to bury the rebound. Marriott then saved from a Midson header before Oxford sealed the game with a richly deserved second. Midson slipped a through ball for Deering, who played in Constable. The striker's shot was blocked but the ball rebounded over the stranded Marriott, who could only palm it over the line.

This was a much-improved performance from Oxford, who look to be hitting form at the right time. The Us were emphatic and, but for a clinical finisher, look to be League Two material, certainly on this showing. With Batt, Bulman, and Chapman at their best, Constable, Potter, and Midson linking up well, and the defence looking impervious, there aren't many teams at this level that can live with this Oxford side.

Today's referee was Mark Heywood, his first time at an Oxford game, and he gave a typical showing for a ref at this level: inconsistent and missing loads. Having said that, he was probably kinder towards Oxford than the visitors, although he did book Jake Wright for a lunge. The attendance was 5,712 with 232 away fans.

The result ensures that Oxford will be at home in the play-off semi-final second leg, as they are now guaranteed to finish either third, their current position, or second. Mansfield are ninth. Stevenage Borough's 2-0 win at Kidderminster Harriers won them the championship after Luton Town were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Altrincham. This leaves the Hatters four points ahead of Oxford, who have two games remaining to Luton's one. Rushden & Diamonds moved into fourth place, ahead of York City on goal difference, after winning 1-0 at Wrexham, whom United play in their final home game on Tuesday. York City were surprisingly held to a 1-1 home draw by bottom side Grays Athletic.

There were some interesting developments at the foot of the table. Second-bottom Ebbsfleet United beat Gateshead 2-0, a result that sees the Heed drop into the bottom three. The Fleet are two points behind fourth-bottom Eastbourne Borough, whose only remaining game is at home to Oxford next Saturday. Eastbourne lost 4-0 at Kettering Town today, with Marcus Kelly on target for the Poppies. Forest Green Rovers are three points above Gateshead after beating Histon 2-0, but as the Heed have two games left then they're not safe yet, nor are Histon who are level on points with Forest Green, in 18th place. Tamworth's 2-0 defeat at Crawley Town leaves them still in mathematical danger of relegation, although it remains extremely unlikely.

These results have ensured that Hayes & Yeading United are safe from the drop, despite their losing 4-1 at Cambridge United, and Barrow are also safe despite going down 1-0 at home to Salisbury City. [@news]2702[/@news] [@opponent]mansfield town[/@opponent]