Rob Duffy made it eleven unbeaten for The U's with a great goal to win a scrappy game at Stafford Rangers. To scorer Duffy fired home a second half goal to ensure another three points and keep Jim Smith's team flying high at the top of the table.

With Marvin Robinson and Andy Burgess missing through injury and illness respectively, United recalled fit again Duffy and John Dempster to the starting eleven.

Perhaps before the changes had time to have any effect, the home side should have taken the lead.They pressed on the edge of the box in the 5^th minute, and a mistake from Dempster allowed Guy Madjo a free run in on the Oxford goal.Luckily for United, the big striker scuffed his shot and Billy Turley saved easily.

At this early stage of the match, it was the home side that were in the ascendancy.But Oxford were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure and try to hit back on the counter attack.

In truth, the game was becoming a scrappy affair, with both sides struggling to string any meaningful passages of play together.Ged Murphy tried to change that in the 26^th minute when he flashed a twenty yard shot just wide of the post and then just two minutes later Hargreaves burst into the box but saw his cross cleared away from danger.

You did get the feeling that for the first time in the match, Oxford were just about getting on top but try as they might, they could not break down a resolute home defence and as the referee blew the whistle to end a poor first half, United would have to improve in the second half to get the three points.

Yemi Odubade was given 45 minutes, in place of Dempster, but it was the home side who nearly grabbed the first goal on 51 as Turley made a fine finger tip save to his right to keep an effort from 41 year old Neil Grayson out.

Home keeper Alcock had rarely been troubled at the other end but had an almight let off on 55 minutes as Basham headed an Anaclet cross past him, McAughtrie cleared off the line straight into the keeper, and Willmott somehow stabbed the loose ball up and over the bar from five yards.

The pressure was building, and cometh the hour mark cometh the man. Two defenders made a bit of a hash of clearing the ball and Brevett was there to advance to the left of the area. He rolled the ball to Duffy who was given time and space and found an audacious curling finish to send the ball into the top corner and take his tally to five for the season.

It was a fine finish and seemed to knock the stuffing out of Stafford. Even trainee vicar Kevin Street couldn't find inspiration and United started to dominate more and more. Hargreaves was buzzing around in midfield, where Hutchinson was added for the last fifteen minutes to strengthen, and with the Ryder Cup in full swing United were effectively dormie with ten to play.

Resolute and determined as ever, United are starting to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack, and although this wasn't vintage stuff it was ruthlessly efficient

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Report Julian Hitchman, Chris Williams. Pictures Daryl 'May the force be with you' Fisher