ROB Duffy was the toast of Oxford after getting the U's back to winning ways at last - despite being unwell.

The centre forward headed home a brilliant Danny Rose cross to earn United a 1-0 victory over Gravesend on Saturday for their first Nationwide Conference win in 12 attempts.

And he became the first Oxford United player since Nigel Jemson ten years ago to reach 20 goals in a season.

Afterwards, Duffy admit- ted: "I didn't realise it was that long since Oxford had had someone reach that milestone."

It was something he probably never envisaged when he came to the club on trial last summer.

"I knew my capabilities, so I always thought I would get goals if I played on a regular basis, I just wanted to score as many as I could," he said.

But he didn't even look like playing in the game at one stage, as he was suffering with the virus which has struck down several of his teammates.

Said United manager Jim Smith: "I wasn't going to play him, but when we had a shooting session in training the day before, he was the only guy that was putting the ball in the back of the net, and that's why he started.

"But prior to that, I had a phone call from the physio saying he was ill, and then a phone call from Duffy saying 'I'm not ill, I can play'.

"He wasn't right, in all honesty, but he did do what he's done all season, he scored the goal.

"It was a lovely cross from Danny Rose and a good header. The disappointing thing was that we didn't get more."

Duffy said he was desperate to face Gravesend despite feeling weak.

"I wanted to play because when you don't play, it just isn't the same," he added.

"I was blowing quite a bit, and was out on my feet in the second half.

"The goal gave me an extra adrenalin boost. I ran around for the best part of an hour, and at the end I was knackered.

"Sometimes supporters don't realise when a player's not well, or if they've got a young baby and they've been up all night."

It was Oxford's first league win since they beat Tamworth 2-1 on November 25, but they remain seven points behind leaders Dagenham, who won 2-0 at Burton Albion.

Duffy said: "It was just a relief to win more than anything. The main thing was the result, rather than the performance.

"It was a nice goal, but it all comes from the delivery. If the ball doesn't come in as a good cross, I can't put it away.

"At the start of the season, I never gave any thought to how many goals I would score, I was just hoping I could be a regular."

He added: "I try to play to the strengths in my game. I know that if the ball comes in from a cross, I'll try to get on the end of it, so a lot depends on how good the crosses are.

"This was a super one and was just good football all round. We needed the goal to settle us down."