Darren Patterson admitted he couldn't bear to watch when Yemi Odubade slotted home the 85th-minute penalty on Saturday that brought Oxford United a fifth straight home win.

But he said that was nothing against Yemi - he did the same when James Constable took the last spot kick.

Odubade, a second-half substitute, had won the penalty with a run into the area before being tripped, and he coolly rolled it into the bottom corner to bring the U's a vital three points which lifts them to 15th in the Blue Square Premier, just eight points behind the play-off places.

"I'm very pleased for Yemi because he's been disappointed he isn't starting - it was a good reaction," said United's manager.

"It's one of those penalties you can have where you have whoever you need to, whoever's confident enough to step up and take it.

"You could tell he looked confident enough, though I didn't actually see it. I couldn't look!

"I didn't look at Constable's one before, not that I'm superstitious or anything! I was just hoping and praying I would hear the roar, and I did."

Asked what he did then, when Odubade started his run-up, Patterson replied: "I put my head down and stood like this!" he said, indicating a silent prayer to himself.

"I hope not to hear groans, and I'm just praying that it's roars."

United deserved the victory if only for the way they stuck to the task, rolling their sleeves up to keep piling on pressure in atrocious weather conditions.

"We're on a good roll at home, and it's something we'd like to continue," Patterson said.

"I thought we kept going. the first half we started nice and bright the first 15 minutes, and then we got sucked in a little bit and went too direct.

"You could see why York have drawn so many games, their system is one that really stops you rather than is an attacking shape.

"At half-time, we mentioned was patience and bravery in possession of the ball, sometimes taking that extra pass and getting people switching, and it worked very well.

"Once we'd created that space in the first 15 or 20 minutes, we really had that freedom in possession.

"I thought we dominated the second half in possession, and looked in control, without really creating a massive amount of chances.

"But the one that we got shows it's a team game, and Yemi came on and did superb."