It was one of the most dramatic nights I can remember for Oxford United in recent seasons.

And it demonstrated how invaluable James Constable is to the team, and to the club’s hopes of promotion this season.

The energy and menace he brings to United’s forward line makes him a one-off in the Conference.

It was ironic that, while the evening became so exciting for so many U’s fans watching because they were aware of Stevenage winning at half-time, and then losing, Oxf-ord’s players and staff were in blissful ignorance of it until after the final whistle.

Alfie Potter said: “To win in the last minute, it was a great result, especially with Steven-age losing.

“We were a bit slow starting, but the gaffer got everyone fired up at half-time and we went out in the second half and had a right go – and fortunately it paid off.

“I don’t think anyone knew what was happening at Ebbs-fleet, so it was a bit of a surprise after the game.

“I think Fozzie (Luke Fos-ter) came in and said ‘Stevenage have lost as well’ and that gave everyone an ever bigger boost.”

With Luton losing at home to Kettering the next night, it looks increasingly like a two-horse race for the title.

The Hatters lost for the fifth time this season, and they are now 16 points adrift of Oxford, with a game in hand.

Ebbsfleet have now chalked up successive wins over Mansfield and Stevenage, so will be full of confidence when they face United at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow.

What a contrast to last month, when they took their dreadful run of games without a goal to eight matches!

Wilder was keen to give the credit for the second-half turnaround at Broadfield Stadium to the players rather than take plaudits for his motivational powers.

“We had a few words at half-time and we changed it around a bit, because it certainly wasn’t working, and we upped it a bit.

“We got on the front footmore and got after them, because they’d got after us first half, and were the better side. They deserved to go in one up at half-time.

“But I’ve got a side here that goes to the end – to the 95th minute.

“It was the introduction of Beano and Alfie and their attitude to the game that really changed it and put us on the front foot, from the first moments of the second half, when Beano chased one down.

“Fair play to the players. We kept going till the end and we were the ones who, at the end, wanted to go and win the game.

“We weren’t hanging on, we drove the game forward, as we have done the last couple of weeks.”

And what of the irrepressible Constable, who has now bagged 41 goals from just 69 starts and three substitute appearances for Oxford?

“I thought the big centre forward was fantastic for us again,” said Wilder.

“That was my decision not to start with him – maybe not the greatest decision I’ve ever made, but you make decisions on the back of certain things.

“That’s the job I’m in, and it wasn’t right.

“What we do, though, is make quick decisions. We don’t wait and hang about, and I thought the introduction of those two boys would give us a spark and it did.

“And he gets his penalty, and then misses it. But he doesn’t go hiding, or sulking into a corner.

“Beano gets across somebody in the box, and scores a fantastic winner.

“He battles hard for every ball, that’s part of his character and the way he is.

“He knows there’s thing need to work on with him – sometimes he needs to link it up better – but he’s talismanic and he leads the line great.”