Oxford United 5 Ebbsfleet United 1

Chris Wilder's first home game in charge of Oxford saw the Us ease to their best victory of the season against an Ebbsfleet side in defensive disarray. Lewis Haldane, playing up front, broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, shortly after Lance Cronin had saved a James Constable effort. Constable controlled a long ball from Luke Foster and knocked it back to Haldane, who hooked the ball over his shoulder and out of Cronin's reach into the far corner. Four minutes later and Constable doubled United's lead, this time latching onto a Haldane pass to blast the ball into the net. It was almost party time again a few minutes later when Haldane put the ball in the net again, but this time he was denied by a late linesman's flag.

Oxford put the game beyond doubt six minutes into the second half. A long through-ball from Chris Willmott should have been easy for Cronin to deal with, but the Ebbsfleet keeper hilariously sliced the ball right to the feet of Yemi Odubade, who calmly passed the ball into the net. With 13 minutes to go Stacey Long pulled a goal back direct from a free-kick on the edge of the Oxford penalty area, but no one really cared as United looked like scoring every time they attacked. With nine minutes remaining Alex Fisher outjumped Cronin, whose punch went towards the far post where Phil Trainer shot home from a narrow angle. Four minutes later, and Fisher latched onto an Adam Murray pass. Fish's excellent first touch took him beyond the covering defender before he lashed the ball into the corner beyond the despairing Cronin. If Chris Wilder had his Christmas ruined by the Boxing Day defeat at Salisbury, then at least his New Year will be an altogether happier occasion.

This impressive win was achieved without the ROS Sam Deering, whose Tibia was fractured at Salisbury and who faces a lengthy lay-off, and also without Jamie Guy and Joe Burnell, who were suffering from illness and injury respectively. This meant three changes to the side beaten at the Ray McEnhill Stadium, with James Clarke replacing Burnell at right-back, Yemi coming in for LSD on the right wing, and Eddie Hutchinson taking Guy's place, with Hutch in the centre of midfield, Trainer shuffling over to the left wing, and Haldane playing alongside Constable in attack. The first change took place with 12 minutes to go, when Yemi, who had hurt his knee at the end of the first half, was replaced by Fisher. With two minutes of normal time remaining Taylor came on for Constable, and almost scored with his first touch when he headed a Murray corner just six inches wide. A minute later Richard Groves replaced Haldane, who for the second match running had an excellent game, his pace and direct running scaring defences witless.

Today's match official was Ian Smedley, who was in charge of United's 0-0 draw with Morecambe in January 2007. Although he was nowhere near as bad as the incompetent buffoon at Friday's game, he still had a game that was nothing to shout about. After a reasonable first half he seemed to lose the plot in the second period, and wasn't helped by an almost total breakdown in communications with his assistants. Still, at least he didn't book any Oxford players. Today's attendance was Oxford's best of the season, with 5,120 in the ground. This is short of the Conference's top attendance of the season, which was 6,488 for Cambridge United's Boxing Day derby against Histon, and wasn't helped much by the away support of just 91 from Kent.

This win lifts United into the top half of the table, up to 12th place, while Ebbsfleet have dropped to 14th. This means we'll look at the top of the table first, where Burton Albion remain top despite not having a game today. They are still seven points ahead of Histon, who won 4-1 at Grays Athletic, who have dropped to third from bottom. Kidderminster Harriers have climbed to third after their 1-0 win at Torquay United, who have dropped to fifth, 12 points above the Us. Crawley have gone up to fourth after winning 1-0 at Eastbourne Borough, who remain 15th. Cambridge United stay sixth after drawing 1-1 with ninth-placed Stevenage Borough, who rescued a point with a last-minute penalty. Wrexham's 1-1 draw with fourth-bottom Woking leaves them in seventh place, while Altrincham have climbed to 11th after winning 2-1 at 16th-placed York City. In today's other game Forest Green Rovers beat Barrow 2-1. Salisbury, whom United play on New Year's Day, were due to play at Northwich Victoria, but the game was postponed due to a frozen pitch, which also did for the game between Lewes and Kettering Town. [@news]2432[/@news][@opponent]ebbsfleet united[/@opponent]