United got back to winning ways this afternoon as Matt Day and Rob Duffy scored second half goals to give them a 2-1 win over Tamworth.

After last week's defeat Jim Smith promised changes and he was as good as his word.Eddie Hutchinson returned after injury and replaced Carl Pettefer in midfield whilst Rob Duffy also returned and partnered Jamie Slabber in attack.Phil Gilchrist failed to recover from his knock and was replaced by Day.There was also a start for Gavin Johnson who replaced Rufus Brevett

After two defeats in two games, it was important that United bounced back and started well. They did just that, and after dominating the first five minutes of the match, they should have scored. United broke, the ball found its way to Eddie Anaclet who crossed, but Rob Duffy saw his uncontested header fly over the bar from six yards.

It was good work from Anaclet and also from Duffy who even at this very early stage of the match was showing the physical presence that had been missing from United's last few performances.

United were still on top and a deft 20 yard chip from Jamie Slabber in the 18^th minute and a header from Hutchinson a minute later almost broke the deadlock, but with the away side playing a lone striker and stringing five across the middle of the park, it was going to be tough for United to find a way through.

That was proving to be the case as we passed the half-hour, and the game was turning into a bit of a stalemate and it was going to need a bit of extra quality to brighten up proceedings.

It almost came in the 39^th minute when Anaclet tricked his way past one defender before delivering a back post cross that Duffy headed straight into the keepers arms.But maybe that was the answer.Maybe the best route was to go down the flanks and get decent balls into the box for Duffy and Slabber to attack.

United got warning a minute from the break when Steve Burton ghosted into the near post, but good work from Quinn cleared the danger.That was a close as we came to a goal, but Jim Smith was unimpressed by the stalemate and made two changes at the break, bringing on Pettefer and Odubade for Hutchinson and Slabber.

It lifted things, but the game still wasn't all that pretty to watch and was in need of a lift. Step forward Day! United's long range expert has already scored three screamers this season and when he got the ball thirty yards out, seven minutes into the second half, there was a crescendo of 'shoots' from the home fans. Ever happy to oblige, Day touched the ball forward and unleashed another unstoppable effort into the net.

It was looking like Happy Days were here again, and with Odubade adding life and pace United were looking full value for their lead, but ten minutes later threw away much of that good work when some slack marking at a McGrath right wing cornerallowed Taiwo Atieno a free header eight yards out, and his header rippled the net before Turley could move. Curse those unplayable McGrath deliveries.

Back came The U's and if the first half had been stodgy then the second made up for it as they pressed Tamworth back. Johnson's shot was goalbound until stopped by an unseenTamworth arm, and The Lambs looked like they were tiring as United pressed forward. Hargreaves headed straight at the keeper from an Anaclet cross on 70, and then a shot blocked two minutes later.

A Duffy header was cleared off the line with twelve minutes to go, and when Willmott's follow up was also hacked off the line surely it was only a matter of time.

A minute later that was the case as first Hargreaves ' shot was blocked, again suspiciously looking like handball, then Yemi's effort was similarly repelled, but when the ball broke to Pettefer on the edge of the box the cumulative effect of all those appeals bore fruit as the half time sub took on Graham Law. The defender was judged to be beyond the Law this time, and ref Shedlrake pointed to the spot. Duffy is Mr Calm in those situations and placed his kick perfectly in off the inside of the post for an unstoppable penalty. Inevitable that, against The Lambs,  the welshman should score...

The electric pace of Yemi almost brought a third as he raced down the left and got his shot on target on 84 minutes, that fabled fitness of United certainly gave them the edge in the closing stages.

An important win, and few would argue that is was deserved. Our next home game is on Boxing Day against Woking. Book your ticket now to join Oxford's biggest Christmas Party...

Report Julian Hitchman and Chris Williams. Pictures Steve Daniels