United made it three home wins on the bounce as they hit their stride against Burton. Goals from Phil Trainer and James Constable sealed an  important three points for Darren Patterson's side despite a last minute strike from Aaron Webster.

With Constable up front alongside Jamie Guy and Sam Deering making his first start on the left wing United compensated for the absence of injured captain Joe Burnell by moving Phil Trainer into the middle of the park, with Billy Turley assuming the captaincy. The changes had an instant impact.

In the eighth minute the impressive James Clarke powered away a corner from United's penalty area. Trainer won the ball and freed Haldane on half way who sprinted clear. Burton defender Jake Buxton did very well to get back and block Haldane's right footed drive from the right edge of the area but Haldane showed good presence of mind to retrive the ball and cross again. Trainer had eaten the ground up to appear in the area and thump home his third goal of the season.Three goals in four games for Phil The Power and all of United's last three goals.

Burton are, as ever, a good passing side, but on their day so are The U's, and on seventeen a James Constable effort flashed just wide of veteran keeper Kevin Poole'sright hand post as the Yellows continued to press forward. Deering showed absolutely no sign of any fears and on 22 danced through two challenges from the left wing and fizzed a right footed shot at goal which went perilously close again.

Burton's top scorer Greg Pearson had one effort drift just wide of the otherwise untroubled Turley's goal on 23 minutes and on 33 new signing Lee Morris had the visitors' first shot on target, forcing Turley to plunge to his left to grab the ball.The Brewers had upped their game after a nervy opening but came more and more into the game and on 37 Chris Carruthers needed to make an exceptional block from Webster once more after the striker had taken advantage of a slip to run clear.

United had stood firm and four minutes into the second half doubled their lead from the spot. Jamie Guy touched the ball through on half way for Constable, who bundled through to the area in a tussle with half time sub Ryan Austin. Constable went over once, bounced up and recovered to touch it past Austin once more. Austin's leg came out, Constable went down, and ref Tierney pointed to the spot. Trainer's goalscoring run was ended confidently by Constable from the penalty spot, Poole going the wrong way.

Playing with ever growing confidence United kept going forward and Guy almost made it 3-0 on 53 as he sprinted half the length of the pitch put poked wide of the near post with Haldane unused in the middle of the goal after a similar fifty yard lung bursting sprint. Haldane and Deering had been excellent on the flanks but it's hard to single out players in an excellent team performance.

Sub Yemi Odubade had a fierce shot blocked by a brave/silly defender throwing himself in the way with twelve minutes left and captain Turley made a good save from Shaun Harrad's low shot from on 80. You can tell when Billy's enjoying himself by the number of rolls he puts in when a shot goes wide, and on 81 there were more rolls than Fern Britton's packed lunch as he watched an effort drift wide.

However, in the 89th minute the smiles turned to anxious looks all round as sub Matt Taylor conceded a free kick on the edge of the area and Webster blasted left footed through the wall to make it 2-1 and turn what had been a comfortable win into a nervous four minutes of injury time.

United held firm despite Burton banging at the door throughout, and the final whistle saw the smiles come back once more.

In a week in which the players have joined staff and fans on the streets of Oxford trying to encourage bigger crowds the best possible way to do that was what happened today. A convincing win full of good attacking play in front of a fully supportive crowd.

United play Hayes and Yeading United at home next week in the FA Cup. Get along and support the club and see what we all saw today against Burton: the buzz is back.

Att: 4,494

Away: 273

Report Chris Williams

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