Town survived a tremendous Oxford fightback to record their first double of the season.
Loan signing from Sunderland,Adam Mitchell,made his debut and Matt Bloomer replaced the suspended Leigh Franks.
Mitchell was soon into the action when he just failed to reach Cleveland Taylor’s deep cross,after Taylor had been sent down the right by Adam Nowakowski.
Moments later Dayle Southwell tested visiting keeper,Victor Francoz, with a powerful drive.
It took almost 20 minutes for Oxford to pose a threat when Steve Basham hooked past the post.
Craig Nelthorpe blazed over from thirty yards and Liam Hardy collected Nowakowski’s header,but shot straight at Francoz.
Oxford began to match Town territorially and Paul Stonehouse fired over Town’s bar from 25 yards.
Town finished the half with a flourish.An excellent move between Dave Merris and Southwell created a chance for Mitchell but his well hit shot was deflected for a corner.
The second half started with Taylor setting up Merris who drove well over the top,while at the other end,Oxford sub,Marvin Robinson,was yellow carded by Referee Paul Davison,for a blatant dive in Town’s penalty area.
Adam Bolder replaced Craig Nelthorpe and Town’s game began to look more cohesive.
The game really burst into life with four goals between the 66th and 73rd minutes.
The impressive Taylor’s cross from a Dwayne Samuels throw in, found Hardy and he turned smartly and shot past Francoz.
Three minutes later Francoz could only parry Taylor’s powerful drive and Ashley Worsfold’s follow up was again blocked,but Hardy was on hand to score his and Town’s second.
Oxford hit back immediately,when sub Kayden Taylor,with his first touch,lashed an unstoppable shot past Craig MacGillivray.
Two minutes later,Taylor,who was proving a constant threat to Oxford,fired in a free kick which was glanced in by Shane Killock to make it 3-1.
Chris Hall was introduced into the attack and soon had a header cleared off the line fron Taylor’s cross.
But it was Oxford,with subs Jackson and Cook prominent,who staged a grandstand finish.
Cook and Tom Winters both hit Town’s woodwork before,with a minute to go the unmarked Winters beat MacGillivray with a shot into the far corner.
It was a battling diplay by Town in atrocious conditions,which moved them up to 12th place in the table.
Town 1 MacGillivray,2Samuels, 3 Merris, 4 Nelthorpe (Bolder 56 mins),5 Bloomer, 6 Killock (c),
7 Taylor, 8 Nowakowski, 9 Southwell (Worsfold 61),10 Hardy (Hall 73),11 Mitchell.
Unused sub,12 Rowe,14 Brown
Scorers Hardy 66,69. Killock 73. Booking Taylor
Att 358
