And so the curtain comes down on another Oxford United season of ups and downs, and trials and tribulations.

Quite why tomorrow's final game at Ebbsfleet kicks off at 5.15pm when there's nothing riding on it is a bit beyond me.

There's virtually nothing riding on any of the games as nearly every issue has been decided.

Aldershot are champions and promoted, Torquay, Cambridge, Exeter and Burton are in the play-offs, with Stevenage missing out again, and Stafford, Droylsden and Farsley Celtic are relegated.

Setanta are left with only Halifax versus a demoralised Stevenage, plus Altrincham's game at Weymouth for any that have any real meaning.

Altrincham are doomed unless they win, but Halifax will be strong favourites to win their game anyway, and send them down.

Oxford have come on strong in the last month and head to Ebbsfleet looking to finish the campaign with an impressive five wins on the spin.

What Darren Patterson and Mickey Lewis have done in turning the team around is remarkable, but the U's boss warns people not to go overboard.

"Let's not get carried away," stressed Patterson. "We're doing great, we've had a decent run of late, but we are embarrassed by our position of tenth. We've got to do much better next season."

He was delighted that home supporters had two good victories to celebrate, five goals against Farsley then revenge against Rushden, and both he and the players are eager for the run to continue right to the end.

"I'm so pleased for the fans," he said after Tuesday's win over Rushden. "It's a massive thank-you from me, the staff and the players. We would have loved to have won six (6-0) just to put that right for them because that's just how good they have been.

"We're going to Ebbsfleet to win, it's as simple as that.

"When they came here earlier in the season - 0-0 - it was a good game actually. They're in the FA Trophy final and they've had a decennt season. They're a direct, quick, athletic team, so we'll be looking to match them.

"I would imagine we'll be taking another magnificent support, so hopefully we can send them home again happy."

Player-of-the-year Luke Foster says he's hoping the fine run can carry on, not just tomorrow, but into next season.

"It's eight wins out of ten now. The momentum's going to slow down with pre-season and everything, but it's a young, hungry squad, and if we can maybe get a couple of additions, we've got a real good chance next season. But there's a lot of hard work to be done.

"It's not going to be easy, we know what the league's made of, it will need a lot of hard work.

"The ability here wasn't a problem, it was just the belief and confidence."

Patterson may feel it's a good time to give Matt Green another start, especially as Craig McAllister felt a niggling injury in midweek.

When he came off the bench against Rushden, Green was again lively, and it was from his flick-on, that Odubade scored.

Patterson said: "Matt's attitude has been first-class. He's very disappointed not to be playing. He's a passionate boy, he's desperate to play and gets very upset if he doesn't play, but I thought his attitude was excellent when he came on, he was nice and lively, and was just what we were after."

Ebbsfleet, who have ex-U's centre half Paul McCarthy at the back, are strong at home. They have chalked up 14 league wins at Stonebridge Road, are unbeaten there for a couple of months, and are unbeaten, home and away, in four games.

Up front, Luke Moore is a decent player, and midfielder Stacy Long possesses a good shot - as he showed with a 25-yarder against Forest Green in midweek.