United ended their home campaign with a hard fought win over Rushden this evening. Despite creating the clearer chances United had to wait until the 83rd minute to find the breakthrough as the oitstanding Yemi Odubade finally drilled home the winner to give the U's their first win over Rushden in nine meetings.

With Player of the Year Luke Foster back in the starting line-up and revenge on their minds after the heavy defeat at Nene Park in November United started much the brighter of the two teams and should have taken the lead on eleven minutes as Odubade skipped clear on the right edge of the box and fizzed the ball right across goal where Phil Trainer could only thump his shot into the stand, perhaps beaten by the pace on the cross.

There were strong claims for a penalty on 14 minutes as Foster headed back at the far post and the ball seemed to cannon away off of the raised arm of Phil Gulliver, but ref Rushton decided in favour of his near namesakes.

A flying break by the resurgent Odubade almost teed up strike partner McAllister on 17, only for the covering Platt to make a superb tackle to keep his side in it, and it had been all United for the first twenty five minutes That twenty five minute mark is significant: we're usually three goals down by then against Rushden.

That dominance almost paid off on 34 minutes as a good move ended with the ball at the feet of Adam Murray twenty yards out and he lofted his shot over keeper Anderson but saw the ball bounce back off of the bar.

Murray and Hand were dominating midfield and looking a good combination yet again, and with McAllister linking play well and Odubade's speed killing the cumbersome Gulliver it was good to watch but there was still that lingering fear at half time that it needed the breakthrough goal.

Both teams were playing the ball on the deck and based on the quality of football can expect to be far higher in the table the next time they meet.

Five minutes into the second half and United were back on the front foot as Odubade raced on to a great Anaclet through ball and saw his shot rebound away off of Chris Hope, and from the resulting corner Andersen was fortunate to instinctively hold a Foster shot from two yards away after dropping the initial ball in.

Andersen then parried another Odubade near post flick from an Anaclet cross on 58 and had been by far the busier keeper. Turley saved a Platt effort on 68 minutes as Rushden's patient passing football finally found a way through, and the Diamonds then had their best spell of the match as the game evened out.

It was still the men in yellow creating the better chances though and on 77Odubade again almost found the way through as he took down a bouncing ball and forced Andersen to save with his knee. Moments later a Howard cross ended with Rose heading back at the far post and his header grazing the bar, and a goal was on the cards, with Odubade clear favourite to score it.

It finally came with seven minutes left when sub Matt Green got another decisive flick and Odubade was away again. This time he checked inside Gulliver and beat him all ends up, then thumped his right footed effort past the keeper from ten yards to both confirm United's resurgence and surely seal his place as top scorer.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and after the humiliation at Nene Park this was a fine way to end the season. Oxford United will be back.

Att:4,631

Away:169