JUSTIN Richards was a relieved man after finally breaking his duck with his first Oxford United goal - at the ninth time of asking.

He got the second goal in United's 3-0 win at Halifax, with a delightful finish from Matt Green's cross, and also made the other two.

"It's very pleasing, I've never really gone that long without scoring before," he said.

"It was good play from Greeny. He started the move and put the cross in for the goal as well. I just finished it off but, all the credit goes to Greeny, who worked his socks off and put a brilliant ball into the box for me to get on the end of.

"It's definitely a weight off my mind to have opened my account for Oxford. Now I've started I want to keep on scoring until the end of the season."

Richards said the barren run hadn't actually preyed on his mind, but he was aware of the need to find the net.

"It's not so much that it preys on your mind, but you know that, as a striker, it's your job to get goals," he added.

"Everybody goes into work to do their job, and my job is to score goals."

Green and Richards were involved in an angry confrontation just before Green was substituted, which looked to be an on-field argument about passing to each other in dangerous positions.

The two went head to head, but Richards insisted it was just an indication of the passion with which both strikers play.

"It was just handbags really," he said.

"We're both quite fiery characters and Greeny's frustrated that he's not scored today and stuff like that. We've kissed and made up in the dressing room!"

Richards now hopes he can find the net again, against Stevenage Borough at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon, just as he has in the past.

"I scored against Stevenage when I was at Woking and hopefully I can score against them again.

"They're flying high and had a good result on Good Friday, and have had an extra 24 hours' rest, but we're coming into the game on a high at home so hopefully we can push on from here and get a result."