A BRACE of goals in as many minutes took Oxford United past Bradford City and to within 90 minutes of the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley.

Chris Maguire’s penalty and a rocket from Marvin Johnson did the damage at the start of the second half while Bradford were momentarily down to ten men as Rory McArdle was off the field getting stitches in a head wound.

It was enough to win the quarter-final, which was postponed by a week due to a frozen pitch, although Jordy Hiwula’s late header led to some late nerves.

United held on to continue their fight on three fronts into February.

They will now visit the winner of next week’s last-eight tie between Luton Town and Yeovil Town.

The teamsheet showed three changes from the side which started the Emirates FA Cup win over Newcastle United on Saturday.

Suspension ruled out Joe Skarz, while midfield duo John Lundstram and Ryan Ledson dropped to the bench.

Josh Ruffels and Joe Rothwell stepped up in the middle of the park, while Liam Sercombe played on the right flank as Maguire switched to the left.

United started brightly and a loose pass gifted Kane Hemmings an opportunity to bag his 14th goal of the season.

The striker got hold of his shot from 25 yards, but goalkeeper Rouven Sattelmaier palmed it round the post.

Skarz’s ban saw Johnson drop to left back, which led to a ding-dong battle with Mark Marshall.

The Bantams right winger was found in space several times as Johnson looked to forage further forward.

But on three occasions dangerous moments led to Marshall giving Simon Eastwood straightforward saves at his near post.

Just as the low crowd did not come close to Saturday’s sell-out, the match also fell well short.

Both sides threatened to catch light, but a lack of quality in the final third prevented the contest from catching light.

United were guilty of looking long too often with balls which caught the slippery surface and ran through to Sattelmaier, while Hemmings got little joy against Romain Vincelot and McArdle.

They needed a rethink and when play restarted after half-time Maguire and Hall had switched positions.

The Scot quickly won a corner, which led to a clash of heads between Curtis Nelson and McArdle.

City’s centre half ran down to get stitches and it took eight minutes before it became clear he was unable to return.

By the time the visitors returned to full-strength, they were 2-0 down.

Hall triggered the wobble with a turn and dart into the box, where he was brought down by Vincelot.

It was very similar to the way the winger had earned a spot-kick in the previous round and just like against Scunthorpe, United took advantage.

Maguire had missed from the spot for the first time in his career against Rotherham United this month, but he did not show any trace of nerves when he smashed high into the net.

The U’s sensed blood against the ten men, who looked totally disorganised without McArdle and it was quickly 2-0.

Rothwell broke through and although Maguire appeared to have stalled the move’s progress, the ball was shifted through Ruffels to Johnson.

The makeshift left back did not even bother to take a touch 25 yards out, rifling into the top-right corner of Sattelmaier’s net.

When City returned to 11 men they went on to enjoy a good spell, but the closest they came was a Marshall effort which whistled over Eastwood’s goal.

Nicky Law had the ball in the net 20 minutes from time, but an offside flag cut short the celebrations of the travelling fans who had made the trip for the second time in a week.

United had chances to kill off the game altogether as Bradford pushed forward.

Maguire robbed Timothee Dieng to go clear, but a hesitation allowed Bradford to smother the scot.

It looked costly when Hiwula nodded Law’s cross in off the crossbar to pull a goal back five minutes from time.

Sattelmaier denied Maguire one-on-one as the game headed into six additional minutes, as United held on with relative ease.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Ruffels, Maguire, Sercombe, Rothwell, Johnson, Hall, Hemmings.

Subs used: Lundstram (Hemmings 65), Ledson (Ruffels 76), Carroll (Hall 85).

Unused subs: Stevens, Graham, Roberts.

Booked: Hall.

Bradford City (4-4-2): Sattelmaier, Darby, Vincelot, McArdle (Devine 57), Meredith, Marshall, Dieng, Cullen, Law, Hiwula, Clarke (Hudson 73).

Unused subs: Doyle, Penney, King.

Booked: Vincelot.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 2,274 (159 visitors).