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Craig McAllister celebrates

Craig McAllister scored on his debut and Rob Duffy hit a brace as Oxford United recorded their biggest win of the season.

And the Blue Square Premier victory was rounded off in style by substitute Alex Fisher, who netted his first senior goal nine minutes from time.

Scottish striker McAllister, signed from Grays Athletic only yesterday, produced a very neat finish on 22 minutes to put the U's in front, and was unlucky not to get a second with a superb header which came back off the bar.

Duffy did make it 2-0 from the penalty spot to give Darren Patterson's men the rare luxury of a comfortable half-time lead and United's No 9 then struck a brilliant second with a bicycle kick ten minutes after the break.

Reader Poll Who was United's man of the match against Altrincham? Rob Duffy 50.0% Craig McAllister 50.0% Yemi Odubade 0.0% Joel Ledgister 0.0% Luke Foster 0.0%

Along with 27-year-old McAllister, United's other new signing, 26-year-old Adam Murray, was also making his debut after his move from Macclesfield.

The midfielder, wearing the No 23 shirt that used to be the preserve of Gary Twigg, made a bright start, with good skill to work himself a position to get in a cross from the right in the fifth minute.

But it was McAllister who immediately caught the eye. He delivered one sharp pass for Duffy, only for Duffy to waste the opportunity with a poor touch.

It was clear that the U's, who had Yemi Odubade and Joel Ledgister on the flanks in an orthodox 4-4-2 - with wingers - were under instructions to get in as many crosses as possible, and as many shots as possible.

Phil Trainer brought a save from Stuart Coburn with a 20-yard drive, and although Altrincham's Warren Peyton also tested Billy Turley with a shot, the home side soon resumed their control, and the match returned to being one-way traffic And midway through the half, McAllister opened the scoring. It came from Turley's long free-kick, which skidded off Darren Tinson's head, and McAllister reacted quicker than Chris Lane and finished beautifullly, slotting the ball past Coburn's left hand.

Duffy and McAllister were combining well and the system was working like a dream as the two wingers constantly beat their man and sent over crosses.

It was from a terrific centre by Ledgister that McAllister headed against the bar on 34 minutes.

Moments later, from Odubade's pass, Duffy worked himself into a shooting position and hit a low shot from 18 yards that Coburn just kept out, by pushing to his left.

Just before the interval, Odubade burst through onto Duffy's flick-on and went down under the challenge of the keeper. The ref pointed to the spot straight away, and Duffy converted it with supreme confidence.

Ledgister had a fierce drive saved at the start of the second half and Odubade looked to have been brought down in the box by Tinson. But this time the ref rejected the appeals, and booked Odubade for diving!

But Oxford didn't have long to wait to make it 3-0. From Matt Day's long throw-in, McAllister flicked on and Duffy, showing great athleticism, swivelled and spectacularly fired right-footed into the net on the turn with what was almost an overhead kick.

Goal No 4 came after Fisher had replaced Duffy. Ledgister sprinted along the right and crossed perfectly to the far post where Fisher turned it in.

Oxford Utd: Turley, Day, Corcoran, Foster, Jeannin, Odubade (Pettefer 74), Murray, Trainer, Ledgister (Clarke 83), McAllister, Duffy (Fisher 78). Subs not used: Warrell, Weedon.

Att: 3,950.

Booked: Odubade.

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