United had a day to remember as they recorded the fourth highest attendance ever in the Conference. A crowd of 8,185 were there to see The U's make it eighteen unbeaten thanks to an Andy Burgess double strike. Burgess scored two second half goals, one from the spot, to keep United rolling on at the top of the table.

Boss Jim Smith made two changes to the team that beat Dagenham last Saturday. With Matt Day suspended, Chris Willmott returned to the heart of the United defence while Yemi Odubade's recent good form earned him a starting place in attack alongside Rob Duffy. The unlucky Steve Basham made way and started on the bench.

After the FA Cup last week, it was back to the bread and butter of the league, but United got straight back down to business and created two good early chances. In the 8^th minute Andy Burgess fired just wide after a good three man passing move and then just two minutes later Chris Willmott saw his overhead kick fly just over the bar.

The away fans were trying to lift their side with the aid of a drum, but it was the home side that were continuing to hit the right notes at this early stage of the match.United were playing well, were passing the ball through midfield and were trying to get down both flanks. It almost worked a treat in the 13^th minute when Burgess released Rufus Brevett who in turn played in a superb whipped cross into the box. Chris Hargreaves timed his run to perfection, hit the ball towards goal first time, but then had to watch the ball fly over Nikki Bull before it came back off the bar and bounced away to safety.

Although the away side occasionally looked dangerous on the break, it was still United that looked the more likely side to open the scoring.A 15^th minute header from Odubade, a twenty yard effort from Anaclet and then a glanced header from Burgess four minutes later emphasised the point. But despite all the early pressure, United could not find the opening goal.

With the game still level, it was important that Oxford kept their discipline. They got a wake up call in the 28^th minute when Joel Grant floated a shot over the bar but to counter that, Anaclet then worked space for himself in the box but saw his goal-bound effort blocked.

Aldershot's top scorer Joel Grant was looking sharp in attack for the visitors and having scored ten goals this season already, he needed to be watched carefully.He almost broke the defensive shackles in the 41^st minute when he outpaced the United defence and hit a decent effort towards goal, but Billy Turley did well to catch the ball at the second attempt.

But with the half-time whistle imminent and neither side looking like opening the scoring, Aldershot missed the best chance of the match with only seconds to go to the break. They broke down the right, the ball was crossed into the danger area, over the last United defender into the path of Ryan Williams.Six yards out and with only Turley to beat, luckily for United he hit the ball wide of the post.

It was entertaining fare but the U's weren't quite finding their usual rhythm and The Shots were enjoying the atmosphere and occasion. Dean Smith tested Turley with a long range effort as United were pressed back, and a succession of corners around the hour mark tested United's resilience.

The ball wasn't sticking up front, and Smith made the change just after the hour by bringing Steve Basham on for top scorer Rob Duffy. Basham almost found the break through with his first touch as he cushioned a header into Odubade's path, only for Yemi's first touch to squirm away from him.

Pettefer then thundered in a shot which Bull saved well, and then Basham was at work again to play Anaclet in on goal, only for Darren Barnard to produce a superb tackle to deny him.

Suddenly it was all yellow, and on 72 minutes the breakthough came as Odubade, whose pace had troubled the Shots all afternoon, tricked his way clear on the right and cut into the area. Curtis Osanu tried to get across, but only succeeded in baulking Odubade, who was upended. Aldershot protested long and loud, but to no avail as, with Duffy recently departed, Burgess stepped up and calmly gave his side the lead from the spot.

Burgess was already celebrating collecting the September Conference Player of the Month award, and that bottle of champagne will taste even sweeter after his second goal sealed the win. Defender Rhys Day tried to clear but Burgess was having none of that and charged it down to set himself clear on goal. Abouth twenty different options will have gone through his head, but he seleceted the right one by sending the keeper one way then passing the ball into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

A little tough on gallant Aldershot, but another clean sheet for that super efficient back line, another battling display from the midfield, and when it mattered a touch of class to bring yet another win.

Report Julian 'the punmaster' Hitchman and Chris Williams. Pictures Steve Daniels

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