Goal machine James Constable spoke of his delight at getting off the mark after his second-half brace helped Oxford United to a remarkable 4-3 win at Histon on Saturday.

“It's a big thing for me,” said the striker, who scored 26 goals for the U's in the last campaign.

“Last season I didn't score for the first four games, I think, and it was nice to get that first one, and then the other.

“And if we keep training hard and do what we do right, hopefully I'll get a few more.”

United boss Chris Wilder was thrilled by the three points, and his team's attacking display, though not by the last ten minutes when United let slip a 4-1 lead by allowing Histon to score twice with free headers.

Yet it leaves them with seven points from a tough opening three games, and they are third in the table, level on points with leaders Luton.

“Yes we can say we took the foot off the gas, and we have reiterated to the players that if you don't see the whole game out you can get hurt, but I've got to say, I'm delighted,” said Wilder.

“We played really well, we competed, our game plan worked very well, in terms of nullifying their threats, and we managed to play to our strengths.

“It's a very valuable and hard-earned three points.

“I'm delighted with the points total from the difficult start we've had. There were improved performances – Simon Clist, besides the goal he got, I thought was outstanding.

“He's had a slow start. I thought Mark Creighton, who's had a slow start, was finding his feet, Matt Green was a constant threat, and we're all made up that Beano's (Constable) off the mark with the goals he's got.

“All three strikers were excellent. They pinned their four back, they couldn't hit quality balls from the back.

“We thought we'll cruise home, and do as little as possible, but it hurts, Histon are a decent side.

“It just shows what a difficult place it is to come to, against a team I've got a lot of respect for because they always have a go and never give up.”

"If they'd turned it in, we could have been looking at possibly a 5-1 or 6-1 victory.