Defender Mark Creighton pointed to Oxford United’s team spirit as the deciding factor in winning promotion.

A terrible spell in March saw the U’s automatic promotion hopes die, but winning the play-off final more than made up for that.

“We really did have the wind knocked out of our sails in March,” Creighton admitted.

“It was a terrible time for us after all the hard work we had put in getting to that position.

“But we regrouped again, came on strongly at the end, and got through because of our never-say-die attitude.”

Creighton was a rock at the heart of the United defence, and applauded his teammates’ graft.

“We were excellent today,” he said. “We started so well and were in complete control of the game.

“Then the goal went in against us and that gave them a big lift and spurred them on in the second half.

“We knew they would come at us, which they did, but we defended very well in the second half and the third goal killed it.

“When the whistle went I didn’t know what to do – and then Clarkey (Ryan Clarke) came and jumped on me so that was that.

“I’ve come to Wembley and lost with Kidderminster and won today – I know which is the better feeling!”