Oxford United 3 York City 1

The end of a long season, and an even longer 4 year period amongst the non-league world.

When I started this blog I dared to hope it would end with winning the league, and for a long time it seemed that was destined to be. But Stevenage proved stronger and the play off lottery loomed.

Avoiding Luton in the semis, York beating them and Wilder getting the team just right for the last 3 games all contributed to Promotion yesterday.

The game was the proverbial roller coaster, 2 goals up in 20 minutes and York rarely threatened - it all looked too easy. But Clarke made a very rare error - unchallenged the wet ball slipped from his hands and rolled into the net - and this made the second half very very tense, and the longer it went and the deeper Oxford sat the more nervous we got.

But Wilder got it right again, bringing on the two small quick subs Potter and Deering with the aim of punishing York while they pushed forward - and the tension evaporated when they combined to seal promotion with a cool move and a clinical finish from Potter - a goal he deserved.

And that, as they say dear reader, was that. The end to a great day and a deserved vistory.

Nothing more to add - League 2 beckons with its glamour fixtures Bury, Hereford, Lincoln ... and we wouldn't swap it for anything - apart from League 1 - but that's for another day.

Come on you Yellows ...

... right, this is it.

We do ..

we really do ...

Oxford United 2 Rushden & Diamonds 0

 good day - by any measure, progress. A good crowd, a win - a deserved win, and the best feeling since 4th May 1996 and that 4-0 win over Peterborough sealing promotion to Division One.

A tense first half, R & D didn't look like scoring, and 3 up front for Oxford struggled to break through.

But Green's goal and more importantly Beano's second within minutes knocked all the stuffing out of Rushden & Diamonds and despite a few scares after that it was all over.

An Oxford ground with nearly 12,000 in it is a sight to behold; and so to Wembley - one game away.

Enough words ..

Before

Beer

Ready

During

Come on

Come on

Nearly there

Final whistle

Mayhem

Next stop Wembley

Rushden & Diamonds 1 Oxford United 1

Well - I decided to forfeit the trip to Nene Park mainly for my sanity, instead spending the first half at The Fishes and the second half watching on the tiny version of the Internet that lives in my phone. Anyway it is now all set for a cracking game on Monday, in standard football cliche terms, we would have all taken a draw before the game.

In many ways it makes the second leg very simple, there is no risk of trying to play defensively to protect a lead like last time, just got to go out and win (I assume it is the same as last time and away goals make no difference in Conference play offs - a draw leads to Extra Time).

In the mean time I shall continue to wear the lucky wrist band for it has magical powers and will ensure progress to the final and ultimate victory.

Until Monday dear reader.

Eastbourne Borough 1 Oxford United 0

So ending with a whimper not a bang but it makes no real difference and playing a different squad takes some pressure off as there is an excuse that it is not the strongest 11 starting.

Ended with 86 points, 1 more than a prediction I made here, not a very brave prediction.

So to the play offs, Rushden & Diamonds will be tough opposition, 4 points from our league meetings and the draw with Luton today shows they have the strength. I'm glad to avoid York, had a bad feeling about them - and although all the money will be on Luton getting to the final they will have a tough job getting past York.

Oxford United 1 Wrexham 0

Ongoing flight issues, ash related, meant I made the last home league game of the season. Another cold windy "spring" evening at the Kassam.
Wilder started with an odd selection, resting a number of key players, and playing in a formation which was either 4 3 3, 4 5 1 or 4 4 2 depending who you spoke to.

Turley
Sandwith Wright Day Batt
Potter Deering Chapman Chalmers
Green Midson

Potter seemed to partner Midson more than Green and Deering played more centrally than on the wing.

The team struggled to gel in the first half and there was not recognisable game plan, made a few chances and were rarely threatened.

Second half I thought was an improvement, showing some patience, building from the back if needed and then getting the ball in the box.

The ball just wouldn't stick to Midson, and runs from Deering and Potter petered out with neither looking keen to take a shot.

Finally a lofted ball from the right cleared the Wrexham defence and was headed down by Sandwith at the far post, bouncing gracefully over the keeper and into the net seemingly in slow motion.

Possible - 89
Target - 88 (nonsense with 1 game left, but maths is maths)
Form - 88

So you'll be subjected to at least two more posts, lets hope it is 3 and ends well.