It's been twenty-four years since Oxford United's last appearance at Wembley. Almost a quarter of a century  since goals from Trevor Hebberd, Ray Houghton and Jeremy Charles saw the U's lift the Milk Cup in a memorable 3-0 victory over Jim Smith's Queens Park Rangers side. That quarter of a century has not been easy; an entire generation of fans have had only one promotion to cheer since then.

No surprise then to see a huge emotional outpouring from over 30,000 fans who turned Wembley yellow and blue and sang their hearts out from the first whistle to the last to try and inspire their team back into the Football League. It worked. Goals from top scorers Matt Green and James Constable and substitute Alfie Potter saw United through to reward their supporters loyalty despite a gallant effort from Martin Foyle's York side.

The Wembley surface has come in for plenty of criticism and was far from perfect. The first anxious moment came on five minutes when former U's man Chris Carruthers sent in a speculative ball forward which zipped off of the Wembley turf like a ball spinning out of the rough and forced Ryan Clarke to tip the ball over the bar. United hit back quickly and Matt Green skipped round keeper Michael Ingham but couldn't get a shot away as the surface defeated him once again. We won't go on about it but both clubs have played on better surfaces this season and that is in the fifth tier of English football...

We'd like to blame the pitch for a bobble when man of the match Adam Chapman sliced well wide on fourteen but that was probably down to him! Little problem though because when Ingham launched the resulting goal kick United were to take the lead. United were firm in defence and repelled the long ball,Chapman chipped forward, leaving Constable to chase a lost cause as he has done so often. Ingham came out unconvincingly for the second time and this time was beaten to the ball by the United top scorer. He hooked it across goal, Midson bravely nodded on and Green showed incredible technique to chest the ball down and then smash a half volley into the top corner. A superb goal, joyously celebrated.

York responded well and started to play the ball about better but on 21 had a mountain to climb as Constable put his side 2-0 up. Once again it came from the back as the superb Jake Wright rose to win a header. The ball found Constable who hooked on towards Green in the right hand channel. He challenged bravely, as Midson had done for the opener, and pressurised left back James Meredith into a header across his own goal. He will have been distraught to see Constable latch on to the loose ball, advance a few steps and then thrash the ball past Ingham for his 26th of the season.

Any Wembley nerves had dissolved in the driving rain and United were enjoying themselves. Had Midson found the gaping net rather than the post on 27 it would surely have been game over by half time?

What United needed was to see it through to half time but on 42 their Player of the Year dropped a very rare clanger.  Purkiss swung over a deep cross which would usually be catching practice for Ryan Clarke. Inexpicably the wet ball slipped through his hands and  flopped almost apologetically into the net before either the keeper could atone or Wright could react. A soft goal and a very different team talk for Chris Wilder at half time.

Midson almost restored the two goal advantage seconds after the restart but saw his effort smuggled away on the line by a covering defender while another Constable drive was blocked after 54 as United pressed, but the troublesome Michael Rankine had drilled an effort only just wide moments earlier and Clarke then needed to save well from Brodie on 57 as the game opened up more and more. Massive credit to the outstanding Wright and man mountain Creighton who stood firm throughout.

Ingham saved well from Clist on 59, Chapman smashed wide on 60 then Green went off to an ovation to allow Alfie Potter to try and exploit the space that York were sure to leave in the closing stages. Clarke made a save at the foot of his post on 75 as the Minstermen pressed but Constable should have wrapped it up on 85 as Potter sent him clean through after an amazing solo run, only for the top scorer to blaze his shot over from twelve yards with his left foot.

Nerves were the name of the game as time ticked down and York threw everything forward, but seconds into stoppage time United sealed the win and the return to league football as the two pint-sized substitutes combined. Potter picked up the ball as York stretched themselves and played in Deering as the U's found themselves two-on-one breaking forward. Deering broke into the box, looked up and squared the ball back to Potter who slotted the ball home unmarked to send more than 30,000 Oxford fans wild.

Macclesfield, Accrington and Wycombe might not be the promised land but right now they look mighty fine. United have learned huge lessons over the last four years and rather than see this as the end of the Conference story this game marks just the start of an awfully big adventure. All you have to do is believe...

Report by Chris Williams