Boro snap up first-class win on the road at Oxford City

Facing opponents battling to stay in the division, Boro held the edge throughout and converted twice in the second half to seal victory.

Kieran Weledji returned to the starting XI after suspension to replace the injured Jake Hull, with Alex Purver sitting out as he begins a three-game ban.

New loan addition, midfielder Aidon Shehu from Hull City was brought straight in to bolster the bench for the visitors.

Boro created the first chance of the game after just four minutes, as a Jack Waldron free-kick was nodded down by Weledji at the feet of Steve Walker, the striker reacting quickly to direct goalwards but saw his low effort blocked.

Scarborough continued to put the pressure on, with Walker forcing himself between two Oxford defenders chasing onto a ball through the middle before he was forced to the floor in the box, with the referee Harry Jones waving away any appeals for a penalty.

Walker was quickly back in the action though, firing a low shot across goal that took a touch to take it wide.

The chances kept flowing as Dom Tear then headed well over from six yards after jumping too early when unmarked.

After being on the back foot Oxford gradually settled in the game, with O’Shea Ellis pushing high up the field to steal the ball, only to see his low effort deflected wide.

On the half hour mark Oxford centre half Aaron Harper-Bailey nearly handed Boro the opening goal on a plate, sending a loose pass across the home penalty area that Harry Green gleefully pounced on, but saw his shot saved smartly by the Hoops keeper Max Metcalfe diving to his left.

At the other end Waldron was alert to make a key defensive block as Tom Scott shaped to shoot. The sitting midfielder then turned provider early in the second half, laying off to Luca Colville to curl over the bar, before missing the target with a long-range effort of his own.

There were still warning signs for the away side though, with a triple substitution by Oxford City manager Ross Jenkins giving the hosts a second wind.

Ewan Clark flicked the crossbar as his cross took a wicked deflection, followed by a close-range shot that was just about scrambled away.

After plenty of pressure, Boro needed to be more clinical in front of goal, so it was a relief for the travelling fans when the Seadogs finally found the back of the net on 69 minutes. Harry Green unleashed all his trickery to bolt in from the right, sliding the ball across to set up Rio Allan for an effort that was initially blocked by a defender with the keeper beaten, only for the ball to ricochet off an unfortunate Oxford defender to bounce back into the net as an own goal.

Boro tried to build on this moment of good fortune as Allan was once again denied by the busy Metcalfe.

With six minutes left on the clock the visitors grabbed a second to put the result firmly beyond doubt. The excellent Waldron showed good anticipation to chase a lost cause down the left, before nipping past two defenders to crash home and make the three points secure.

There was still time for a late home chance for a consolation after decent build-up play saw Ellis again drag wide when well placed.

But the full-time whistle quickly followed, to confirm the clean sheet and keep the Jono Greening’s side in contention for a top seven finish.

Boro: Whitley, Weledji, Duckworth, Thornton (c), Allan (Shehu 93’), Walker (Bennett 82’), Green (Chapman 85’), Colville (Wiles 66’), Tear, Brown, Waldron

Goals: Own goal 69’, Waldron 84’

Attendance: 776

Scarborough fans: 75