Jamie Hand did his hopes of landing a contract for next season a power of good with a superb performance as Oxford United won on the road again.

The former Watford midfielder laid on the pass for Yemi Odubade's classy opener, and had an excellent game as the U's won 2-1 at Woking on Saturday to climb to tenth in the Blue Square Premier.

Boss Darren Patterson said: "Jamie had probably his best game for us, and I was pleased with his discipline because I felt he was close to being sent off.

"We spoke about it at half-time and we were deliberating whether to take him off and put on Hutch (Eddie Hutch- inson) because we don't need anybody getting sent off.

"But we spoke to him about it and I thought his discipline second half was excellent."

Patterson has largely kept faith with the combination of Hand and Adam Murray as he knows they are both capable of scoring from central midfield, which is something United must do if they are to mount a promotion push next season.

"I think both of them have got goals in them," said United's manager.

"You see it in training with the shots they have. We need more goals from them, and from all areas."

Phil Trainer got the U's winner in the 77th minute after Woking had levelled following a penalty.

And Patterson felt the victory, Oxford's ninth away - as many as they have managed at home - was no more than they deserved.

"I would have been disappointed had we not won the game," he said.

"Yemi had a great chance early on. But he didn't let his head go down and the goal he did score was an excellent finish - it was a harder finish - and I'm really pleased that he showed that character and quality . . . and it shows his massive improvement this past week.

"Again a referee could have ruined a game for us. I thought some of the decisions were quite incredible - I was laughing on the sidelines, and if I hadn't been laughing, I would have been crying.

"But again we showed good reaction to the goal, and I thought we deserved the win.

"I can't remember Billy Turley being troubled, apart from one shot in the first half "We haven't often bounced back well after conceding a goal, or going behind, so it was good to see that reaction.

"But the biggest thing for us was that our midfield two were excellent."