Barry Quinn reckons this year's Blue Square Premier is the most open top flight of non-League football for years – and it's going to be a real dogfight to claim a promotion place.

In the previous two years that Oxford United have been in the Conference, they have seen Dagenham & Redbridge (with 95 points in 2006-7) and Aldershot Town (101 points in 2007-8) race away to the title and automatic promotion.

Dagenham finished 14 points clear (of Oxford), and the Shots ended 15 points ahead of their nearest challengers (Cambridge and Torquay).

It's early days yet, but so far this season no club has really looked invincible, and a dozen or so look ready to battle hard for pole position, and the four play-off places.

Central defender Quinn, who played his 200th game for Oxford last Saturday, agreed with assistant manager Mickey Lewis's recent comment that the Conference is now League Three in everything but name, and is the most competitive it's ever been.

He said: "Everyone's beating everyone, no-one's running away with it.

"People say you're only playing in the Blue Square Premier, but the league's really improved and it's tough.

"A lot of teams are quite capable of beating each other. It's just that little bit extra you need to win it.

"We know we've got that, it's just a question of getting it over.

"It seems that everything that can go wrong is going wrong, with stupid sendings-off and injuries to key players, but you've got to overcome that.

"It's no excuse, everybody goes through the season with injuries and suspensions.

"We should have a good enough squad to overcome that, but it hasn't helped. It would be good to have everyone fit and available."

Former Republic of Ireland international Quinn, whose contract runs through to the summer of 2010, says he has greatly enjoyed his time with the U's.

"Two hundred games . . . it makes me feel old," he smiled. "I've enjoyed every minute of it, it's a great club, great staff great players and great supporters.

"I'm lucky to be here and to have played 200 games, and I have appreciated it. Hopefully, I can have another 200."

Typically, Quinn was in the thick of the action in the 1-1 draw with Kettering, having a header cleared off the line at a corner, and then preventing a goal at the other end.

He added: "Some teams don't put a man on the back post, some do. It was a good header, but it was straight at him. I was disappointed not to score, it would have been nice to have gone one up. I could do with getting more goals.

"The fans were magnificent, and the lads noticed it, and appreciated it.

"We're just sorry for them that we didn't finish with a win. But at least we didn't lose, we've got to roll on now and look forward to Kidderminster.

"We're not worried by our position at the moment by any means. If we can stay unbeaten at Kidderminster and keep this little run going, the confidence will improve and we'll get back up there."