A fantastic second half spell of three goals in five minutes eased many of United's play-off nerves this afternoon as they eased past Weymouth to stay in second place in the table. Leading though Chris Zebroski's first goal for the club, The U's were pegged back by a hard working Weymouth side before goals from Chris Hargreaves, Marvin Robinson and Barry Quinn earned them an invaluable win.

Oxford boss Jim Smith made changes for today's must win game.United welcomed back skipper Phil Gilchrist, Gavin Johnson, Eddie Anaclet into defence. Rob Duffy missed the game through injury and was replaced in attack by Chris Zebroski.United needed to start the half well and play with the same second half tempo that they had finished with on Saturday and they almost got off to the perfect start when they should have scored after a minute.

United pushed forward from the kick-off, Gavin Johnson played a through ball for Zebroski, the striker failed to collect and the ball continued on past the Weymouth defence where Odubade found himself one-on-one with the keeper but a combination of a poor touch and a suspect tackle allowed Nicholas Jones in the Weymouth goal to clear the danger with the crowd appealing for a penalty.

The U's lost concentration in the 4^th minute and allowed former Yellow Simon Weatherstone a clear run in on Billy Turley.With the angle against him, Weatherstone scuffed his shot wide of the post.

I

t was end to end stuff and United should have taken the lead in the 13^th minute.Odubade did well to beat two men down the wing and win a corner, and from Foster's right wing deep delivery Chris Hargreaves headed over from six yards when he should have buried the chance. It was the first of three clear chances from similar corners, leading up to Zebroski's opener.

United were battling well and were now pushing the visitors back.Zebroski went close with a header in the 18^th minute and with the away side intent on survival you did sense that a goal was coming.The United fans didn't have to wait long as just five minutes later, they took the lead.

More good work down the United right resulted in a corner and this time from Foster's cross Zebroski rose unmarked and looped a free header over Jones to give United the lead and score his first United goal.

It was now all United, and Foster fired wide a minute later and then Quinn saw a header cleared off the line in the 30^th minute as they looked to kill the game.

Odubade almost did just that in the 35^th minute when he turned quickly in the box and fired over the bar and then a minute later Zebroski was again left unmarked at the back post at a corner, but this time could not control his header and the chance was missed.

Sadly, just when you thought that United would run away with the game, they allowed Weymouth back into the game in the 40^th minute when they once again failed to deal with a corner.The away side played in a low cross which was dummied into the path of Weatherstone twenty-five yards out.The midfielder hit a first time shot that was deflected into the path of Rafeal Nade who finished well from ten yards past Turley.

It was a poor goal to concede and after dominating for much of the half, United should have been out of sight.It was another piece of poor defending as Weymouth had not offered any real threat for much of the half and Oxford now needed to roll down their sleeves and drag themselves back into the match in the second half.

They started in much the same style as they'd played the first half, pressing Weymouth back and dominating possession, but once again failing to turn possession into goals. Odubade, outstanding throughout, had the ideal chance to make it 2-1 three minutes into the half, scuffing his shot after a neat pass from Hargreaves had freed him inside the area.

The home crowd, sensing that their team needed them rose to their feet and started chanting for all their worth, and with Weymouth fans playing their part it was a good atmosphere for a very open game of football. Rose had a header drift wide then blasted into the car park at the far post from a Foster cross on 61, but still a second goal evaded United.

Odubade sent a shot into keeper Jones's midriff from the edge of the area on 65, and with Marvin Robinson up front as part of a three man attack, Jim Smith went  for the win, and deserves great credit for the way his team responded, stayed patient and came through. Robinson nodded a corner wide on 69 minutes, but in throwing men forward United were inviting the counter attack, and a Crittenden shot flew off Gilchrist and out for a corner on 70 to remind the U's of their defensive duties. It was only Weymouth's second corner of the afternoon, compared to United's nine to that point, but The Terras were stubborn, determined opponents who were riding their luck.

Zebroski had the ideal chance to win the game on 75 as Odubade released him, only for Jones to dive to his left and somehow parry the ball round the far post for an outstanding save, but just as it seemed the breakthrough wasn't going to come they finally managed to find it through that wise head of Hargreaves. Again it was OIdubade causing the problems, this time out on the left, and when his cross picked out Hargreaves the midfielder twisted every sinew to send a splendid header into the bottom left corner of the net: the second goal he's scored this season against Weymouth.

It was no more than The U's deserved, and two minutes later the vital three points were secured as sub Robinson rose at the near post to flick home Matt Day's long throw. Marvellous.

What could you do to round off a day like that? Well home about a goal from Barry Quinn? Johnson sent in a cornmer, Quinn was lurking and, although he couldn't really miss, we will write it instead as a towering header from two yards.

Perhaps harder work than it needed to be, but a convincing win which puts The U's in pole position as the fight for the play-offs hots up.

Report Chris Williams and Julian Hitchman, pics Steve Daniels