Oxford clinched promotion back to the Football League with a 3-1 win over York City in the play-off final.
Potter clinches promotion with late goal to kill off Minstermen
Oxford clinched promotion back to the Football League with a 3-1 win over York City in the Blue Square Premier play-off final at Wembley.
First-half goals from Matt Green and the prolific James Constable gave the Us a comfortable cushion in the fight to clinch promotion after a four-year absence.
However York were gifted a lifeline before the break when Oxford goalkeeper Ryan Clarke dropped a Ben Purkiss cross into his own goal.
The Minstermen pushed hard in their efforts to find an equaliser but were caught cold on the break in the dying stages, Alfie Potter sealing the victory with a cool finish in the 90th minute.
Green opener
Green had broken the deadlock in the 15th minute when he finished with his left foot on the half volley with York goalkeeper Michael Ingham still out of position having rushed off his line to deal with the initial danger.
A second soon followed when a clearing header by James Meredith broke kindly to Constable, the striker taking a clever touch wide to give himself space before firing in with his left for his 26th goal of the season.
Only a post denied Jack Midson making it a three-goal lead from a corner, as York were in danger of being drowned out in the incessant rain.
Yet Martin Foyle's side went in at the break only one behind as Clarke, under no real pressure from an attacker, spilled Purkiss' centre over the line.
Wasted
Desperate to find a leveller, York poured forward in the second half. Michael Rankine and Neil Barrett both wasted good chances, failing to even hit the target when in with a clear sight of goal.
In the end Oxford held out, eventually making sure they would join champions Stevenage in going up with a killer third at the death.
A clearance from a York corner led to a two-on-one breakaway, substitutes Sam Deering and Alfie Potter cleverly working the ball between themselves before the latter held his nerve to beat Ingham.
The midfielder's effort sparked wild scenes of celebration from the Oxford support, as the yellow on and off the pitch went bananas.
