Birthday boy Greg Leigh celebrated in style today as his two goals, along with a header from captain Elliott Moore, earned Oxford United a superb 3-1 win away at Stevenage.
A fifth goal in five games from Jamie Reid had given Steve Evans' side an early advantage at the Lamex, but left-back Leigh marked his 29th birthday with a goal in each half before Moore sealed the win to keep his team hot on the heels of leaders Portsmouth.
There was a huge contrast in styles between the teams in second and third at the start of the day, but that contributed to a hugely enjoyable encounter that ebbed and flowed for the full 90 minutes.
United conceded after 15 minutes after coming under an early Boro barrage from the more direct home team. They had already had to thump two headers out of the ground and captain Moore had headed a Carl Piergianni header out from under the crossbar as crosses, set-pieces and long throws rained into the box before the early pressure paid off when Stevenage opened the scoring.
A clever ball behind the defence from Jordan Roberts allowed Oxford old boy Kane Hemmings to race away down the right. His cross was inch perfect and Reid did the rest with a simple finish past the exposed James Beadle.
Time for stout hearts and bravery, but rather than battle their way back and lump the ball forward, United stuck to the gameplan and played their way back into the game.
On 23 minutes they were level through Leigh’s second goal since joining from Ipswich. Fin Stevens and Ruben Rodrigues had both gone close with headers when a Billy Bodin header crashed back off the bar. Leigh reacted first and United were level.
The game then became much more even, with the U’s zipping the ball around, creating half chances such as a Moore header that flew over two minutes before the end of a first half that highlighted both why the teams are in the promotion chasing places, and how.
The excellent Bodin might have put United ahead 90 seconds into the second half but bent his shot just wide of the goal, but the magnificent away fans didn't have too long to wait before Leigh smashed home the second. It wasn't a beautiful build up, it was a long throw from Stevens, a bit of a scrap and then came the class as Leigh swivelled and volleyed the ball beyond the dive of keeper Kristian Hegyi to make it 2-1.
United tried to take the sting out of the game, with Stevenage working hard to try and find a way back. The unflappable James Beadle made an excellent save when sub Elliott List got a clear sight of his goal, and the same player then directed a header off target when unmarked ten minutes from time.
Those moments proved pivotal, and with nine minutes left Moore settled affairs with a killer third goal. Sub Josh Murphy was the provider with an outrageous dummy and then a magificent chipped cross from the right. Moore attacked it, headed downwards and United had scored three for the third game in a row.
Celebrate your birthday, celebrate a new contract, or celebrate your team when winning from behind for the first time this season. But do celebrate.
This is a good time to be part of what is building at Oxford United. Two home games this week: come and be part of it.
Att: 5,512 Away: 1,386
Report by Chris Williams. Pictures Steve Edmunds, Steve Daniels and Darrell Fisher. Stats by OPTA