United went back to the top of the league tonight as they showed their mettle once again. Down to ten men, United found the strength of character to hit back immediately with a goal from Yemi Odubade and after being pegged back by hard working Saints they found a stunning winner from Matt Day to send everyone home happy.

Jim Smith was forced into making one change to the team that battled to a point against Weymouth on Monday.With Steve Basham failing to recover from the injury that he picked up in Weymouth, new deadline day signing Marvin Robinson was handed a first start for United.There was some good news though as John Dempster returned after recovering from his knock, but the midfielder had to make do with a place on the bench.

With the crowd of over 6,000 still pouring through the turnstiles as the game started, United almost had the best possible start when they came close to opening the scoring in the first minute.

Good play from Andy Burgess freed Rob Duffy in the box, but veteran keeper Paul Bastock did well to race from his line and smother the danger. It was a decent start from the home side, but it almost got better in the 12^th minute when United had a goal disallowed.Carl Pettefer's twenty yard shot was deflected, Bastock did well to push the ball against the bar, but Marvin Robinson was adjudged off side as he and Duffy bundled the ball into the net.

Robinson had started well and was causing the visitors problems with his physical presence.It almost paid off four minutes later when he glanced a Burgess cross just wide as United continued to push for the opening goal.Unfortunately for Robinson, that was as good as it got, for just a minute later the striker seemed to land awkwardly and had to be replaced by Yemi Odubade. With the first finger on his left hand pointing west and the rest pointing south it was a horrific looking injury although it may not keep him out for too long.

The change seemed to affect United and for the first time in the match it was the away side that were controlling the game and in the 29^th minute things took another turn for the worse when Gavin Johnson appeared to pull his hamstring and had to be replaced by Matt Day.

Chris Hargreaves tried to change that two minutes later when he flashed a header over the bar after some great individual skill from Burgess had set Anaclet free down the right and it was turning into an enjoyable end-to-end encounter with both sides pushing men forward in attack.

When given time on the ball, Oxford were playing some decent football and Anaclet showed his ability in the 42^nd minute when he cut inside two defenders but saw his shot fly just past the post and then in injury time Odubade saw his shot pushed away from Bastock as United looked for the opening goal. That was as close as United came in the first half and you did get the feeling that although the score was level, Oxford would be disappointed not to be in front.

The second half again opened with The U's on the prowl and The Saints soaking up pressure, but chances were far and few between. Odubade came close on the hour after racing clear on to a Day through ball, and the home fans were in full voice trying to suck the ball into the goal at the Oxford Mail end. Yemi really should have got them the goal they were craving on 65 minutes when he was given the freedom of the penalty area but saw his shot somehow deflected up and over the bar by the dastardly Bastock, so often a thorn in United's side.

It was turning into one of those nights, and a minute later the whole thing went even more pear shaped as Hargreaves lunged at the ball and caught Tom Davis on the shin. Ref Kinseley saw it as an over the top challenge and Hargreaves was dismissed.

So, what do you do when you go a man down? Obviously you charge up the other end and take the lead. Moments after going a man behind the U's were in front as Willmott launched the ball for Duffy who flicked the ball on for Odubade, again in acres of space, and this time the United supersub found the finish to match with a neat finish past the onrushing Bastock. Twice this season United have gone down to ten men, twice Yemi has then scored. And if you use The Odubade Scale of including assists as half a goal he now has four and a half!

St Albans had given everything and will cause plenty of teams problems, but were looking tired and beaten when suddenly they found a goal from nowhere! A right wing corner was met by Dave Thobald's head and suddenly United's dreams of going top were dissolving.

Pegged back and a man down? Well, obviously you rush up the other end and score. Matt Day, playing as left back, suddenly found himself inhabited by the spirit of Roberto Carlos. Two shimmies, a swift dummy then SMASH and the ball was in the back of the net for his first goal for the club and The U's were loving Friday night.

There was still time for Eddie Hutchinson to hit the bar from 20 yards, but that really would have capped a fine evening's work and another terrific team performance to earn an ovation from the Oxford public.

Report Julian Hitchman, Chris Williams. Pictures Steve Daniels