United went five points clear at the top of the Conference tonight with another convincing win. Yemi Odubade scored twice and Chris Hargreaves capped a fine personal performance with a goal to ensure that United won their seventh away game of the season

Playing all in white it was the Oxford U's who started the brighter and it took a great tackle from Morrison to rob Basham as he raced onto a Burgess through ball after eight minutes. Willmott, like Basham returning to the starting eleven, headed wide from twelve yards after the resulting corner and the home side were pinned back and relying on Marcus Richardson to win the ball and play people in up front as they matched United's 3-5-2 formation.

Crichton in the Cambridge goal was fortunate on 16 minutes as Odubade charged down his kick, with the ball going perilously close to the unguarded goal and the first quarter of the game was played mainly in the Cambridge half of the pitch.

There was no surprise therefore when Jim Smith's side took the lead with a well worked goal. Anaclet challenged debutant Meredith down by the right corner flag, and Cambridge''s on loan defender was caught out. Anaclet rolled the ball inside to Basham, in splendid isolation, and he unselfishly moved the ball on one more to the unmarked Odubade who really couldn't miss. Where the Cambridge defence had gone is anyone's guess, but that's five for the season for Yemi and his first goal when starting a match.

Pettefer, looking the complete midfielder, fired in a shot which just cleared the bar, and still Oxford's midfield were on top, although perhaps possession should have been turned into more goals before the interval.

That point was emphasised five minutes into the second half as Hargreaves needed to make an excellent tackle as Richardson threatened to run in on goal. Hargreaves has been in great form of late, and on 56 minutes he was on hand again to score his third of the season and put his side on total control. Again, it was a well worked goal, with 3b's to create the chance. Basham flicked to Burgess, Burgess waltzed across the pitch, right to left, then played the perfect ball for Brevett to gallop onto down the left wing. Rufus, as ever, had the perfect cross to finish the move, and Hargreaves threw himself forward to meet the ball and head down and in.

Last year's skipper has scored three goals this season, four in his Oxford career, and all have been away from home. Again, no sign of a defender, but credit to the lung bursting run from the midfielder.

The U's were in total control and just five minutes later it was job done as Yemi scored his second and killed the game. In fairness to Cambridge it came from a corner that never was, as Quinn headed against the bar but ref Horwood awarded a corner. Burgess worked a short cormer then crossed to the far post where Willmott headed back. Gilchrist touched on and Odubade managed to get the ball out from his feet and smash home his sixth of the season.

3-0 up away from home, United were cruising and it was now a case of whether Yemi could complete his hat-trick. He nearly did on 80 minutes after a terrific tackle by sub John Dempster won the ball and Hargreaves played the former Eastbourne man in on goal. Yemi did almost everything right but this time Crichton got something on to his shot and the ball flew just wide. He then went even closer as he rounded Crichton in the last minute, but the ball just beat him to the by-line with the goal at his mercy.

That would have been the icing on the cake, but a 3-0 win away from home is pretty convincing and great reward for the brilliant away fans who had battled the Friday night traffic to play their part in another fine night's work.

Report Chris Williams. Pictures Darrell Fisher

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