Notts County showed today that Oxford aren’t the only side with an uncanny knack of throwing away apparent victories. United were trailing to a first-half goal by the Magpies’ Julien Baudet, who headed home unmarked from a cross after 28 minutes. Then, with quarter of an hour remaining, Paul Bolland palmed away a Chris Hackett cross that was heading towards Steve Basham, and up stepped Tommy Mooney to put the ball to Saul Deeney’s left from the penalty spot. Six minutes later, debutant Amine Karam chipped a quick free-kick into Craig Davies’s path, Baudet pulled him back and Davies conveniently fell into the penalty area. From the resulting spot-kick Mooney again put the ball to Deeney’s left for his first brace of the season.

Horacio Rodriguez made only one change to the side that drew with Macclesfield on Wednesday, resting Lee Bradbury and handing Emiliano Diaz his full debut, to celebrate his father’s return from exile, with Hackett switching to the right wing and Mooney made captain for the day. Seven minutes into the second half Paul Wanless, who had been carrying an injury, was taken off with Craig Davies coming on alongside Steve Basham, and Mooney dropping back to an unaccustomed (while at Oxford) centre-back position. Four minutes later Diaz was substituted for fellow Argentinean Juan Pablo Raponi, who initially took up Diaz’s position on the right, but later swapped wings with Hackett. Two minutes before United’s first penalty Karam was handed his long-awaited Oxford debut, the Frenchman replacing yet another Argentine, Lucas Cominelli.

Today’s referee, Jarnail Singh was taking charge of his second Oxford game in quick succession, Singh also officiating at United’s home defeat by Grimsby just two months ago. Singh had an excellent game, blowing his whistle constantly, awarding Oxford two penalties, one of which was certainly correct, and even managing to give Mateo Corbo his customary booking, this time for carrying the ball away from a Notts free-kick. Singh obviously failed to comprehend the Latin temperament, as he booked Cominelli for the same offence. A third South American also saw yellow, Diaz being cautioned for a slightly rash tackle at the end of the first half. Today’s attendance was a surprisingly high 4,436. A match report might appear tomorrow, weather permitting.

The win lifts United back into the top half of the table, up to 12th, 8 points off the play-offs with four games to play (maybe…). Notts County are 12 points above the relegation places, and so aren’t mathematically safe just yet. Yeovil beat Mansfield 5-2 to regain top spot, with Southend not playing today due to their involvement in the LDV Vans Trophy final in Cardiff tomorrow. Scunthorpe went third after winning 2-1 at 8th-placed Northampton, while United’s next opponents, Swansea, lost 1-0 at Lincoln thanks to a Garry Monk own goal, leaving the Red Imps in 6th place. Fifth-placed Macclesfield also didn’t play as they were due to be Southend’s opponents today. 7th-placed Darlington lost 3-1 at bottom club Cambridge, after being a goal up.

Cambridge are now two points behind second-bottom Kidderminster, who were held 2-2 at home to Bury, and six points from safety, with third-bottom Rushden losing 3-0 at Bristol Rovers, for whom Richard Walker scored the opening goal. Shrewsbury are nine points above the relegation zone after their 1-1 draw with Cheltenham last night, and Chester are a further two points ahead following their 2-1 win over Boston. Grimsby and Wycombe drew 0-0, while Rochdale beat Wycombe 2-0.

In the Conference, Barnet finally sealed automatic promotion with their 3-1 win over Halifax, Simon King scoring the Bees’ second goal. In the third division it’s still not at all certain who will be accompanying Stockport into the oblivion division next season. Second-bottom Peterborough won 1-0 at Blackpool, while Torquay beat Franchise 1-0 to leave the Gulls just three points behind the fifth-bottom pariahs. Wrexham are eight points from safety with two games in hand, but didn’t play today because they are Southend’s opponents in tomorrow’s LDV Vans Trophy final. Walsall (who won 2-1 at swindon), Oldham, Port Vale and Blackpool can still possibly be drawn into the relegation scrap, but it’s more likely to be two of Franchise, Torquay and Wrexham to join Peterborough and Stockport looking up directions around the Oxford ring-road next season.