James Constable and AFC Wimbledon’s Danny Kedwell have joined Cambridge United’s Chris Holroyd on nine goals at the top of the Blue Square Premier goalscoring charts after their Tuesday night strikes.

And Oxford United’s leading scorer, whose goals often come in batches, admits it’s all down to confidence.

‘Beano’ scored a brace and a hat-trick in successive games earlier in the season, and his fine strike at Mansfield means he has scored in United’s last four matches.

“As with most strikers, I’m a confidence player,” Constable said.

“I just try to stay confident, and if I’m scoring, I’ll be confident in front of goal.

“That’s the way it’s going at the moment, the chances seem to be falling for me and fortunately they seem to be going in.”

It was another left-footed shot from Constable at Mansfield, but he said the defeat overshadowed any personal pleasure he got from the goal, which came from a great Adam Murray pass.

“Muzzer’s one of those players who can pick out a pass, from wherever he is on the pitch.

“He did that, and we threw everything at them after that, hit the woodwork a couple of times.

“It was just one of those days when we probably weren’t going to get that one more goal we wanted.

“It was bitterly disappointing.

“We looked quite good going forward for the first 15 minutes and then had a mad ten or 15 minutes, conceded two goals and it was then always going to be an uphill battle after that.”

Kedwell got his goal in Wimbledon’s 1-1 draw with Crawley, who are next up at the Kassam Stadium next Tuesday.

But first the Oxford players are concentrating only on Gateshead.

“It’s a massive game for us,” Constable said. “That was the first away defeat we’ve had this year, and for the many of the lads it’s the first defeat (at the club).

“After the start we’ve had, and the way we’ve been playing, the lads are desperate now to get back, and put Tuesday night out of our minds.”

CONFERENCE LEADING SCORERS.

9 – James Constable (Oxford Utd).

9 – Chris Holroyd (Cambridge Utd).

9 – Danny Kedwell (AFC Wimbledon).

7 – Richard Brodie (York City).

6 – Cliff Akurang (Rushden).

6 – Kyle Perry (Mansfield).

6 – Gareth Taylor (Wrexham).

6 – Matthew Tubbs (Salisbury).

5 – Jamie Cook (Oxford Utd).

5 – Matt Green (Oxford Utd).

5 – Jean-Paul Marna (Kettering).

5 – Jake Speight (Mansfield)