OXFORD United are full steam ahead for second division survival - after Peter Fear's stunning first goal of the season, writes Jon Murray.

The former Wimbledon midfielder struck a brilliant 25-yarder to put Denis Smith's side on their way to a vital 2-1 victory over bottom club Chesterfield at the Manor Ground on Saturday.

But it still needed a last-minute winner from substitute Derek Lilley to give the U's only their fourth home league win of the season.

The win - the first time this season that United have chalked up back-to-back wins, and the first time since October 2 that they've scored two goals at home in the league! - lifts them three points clear of the relegation zone and now makes them odds-on favourites to beat the drop.

But boss Smith warned: "We still need another five or six wins."

Fear's wonder strike ended what for him has been a wretched time at the Manor. "Those shots have been going in during training, it's about time one went in during a match," Fear said.

As for Lilley's matchwinner, Smith said: "It was an extremely important goal. Last week we played well and got a good result, here we've not played particularly well, it's not been the best of games but we've scored two cracking goals and got the three points we needed.

"I was a bit disappointed by the performance. Not everyone, I thought we had some good individual performances, but overall as a team it wasn't as good as last week and that's what I've been drilling into them . . . we''ve got to do it week in and week out.

"I think the lads were a little bit nervous of playing a home and I think that showed in the play. But we've won now and we can get that out of our system and say 'that's gone' and hopefully take it on from here."

United were helped on their way by a wonderful opening goal from Peter Fear, his first for the club. "Fear's goal was worth the entrance fee alone, it's a great goal and he's given us another good performance," said Smith. "He was instrumental in the second goal as well.

"My two centre backs were outstanding and that's frustrating. That is the sort of thing we don't need, when we've got two players playing well and then they're missing through suspension."

Story date: Monday 21 February

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