Josh Payne admitted his free-kick in Oxford United’s 3-1 win over Northampton Town on Saturday was one of the best goals of his career.

“It’s up there definitely,” he said. “I ran up to the ball because I knew it was on. And I was only ever going to shoot – I wasn’t going to cross from there!”

It was the on-loan Doncaster midfielder’s first goal for Oxford.

And with an injury crisis last week at the KeepMoat Stadium, there was even a worry that Payne might be recalled.

But he wasn’t, which was a relief to all at United.

Payne admitted Northampton pressed hard for an equaliser in the second half before Tom Craddock’s penalty sealed victory.

“They’re a very good team, they passed it and shifted us about, but we worked hard to get the result.”

Alfie Potter, scorer of United’s opening goal, said: “I’ve seen him (Payne) take a few in training this week.

“He takes a good free-kick and when he stepped up for it, I had a feeling it was going to go in.”

It was a fifth defeat in a row for Northampton, which heaped more pressure on their manager, Ian Sampson.

But Sampson insisted afterwards that he would not quit.

“Like everyone else, I’ve got a mortgage and a family to support,” he said.

“I’m not a millionaire, so I won’t be resigning.

“But if I wasn’t worried about my position, I wouldn’t be human. I don’t want to lose the job.

“The players gave me everything. We kept grafting and I’m proud of them for doing that. As I’ve told them, if they keep doing that, we’ll turn it around.

“It’s a poor result, obviously, but the lads did OK.

“We had a lot of young players out there and a lot playing in positions they’re not used to.

“After the early goal, we got back into it with a good header by Leon McKenzie, who looked a threat all game, but it was a good free-kick to put them back in front.

“We dominated the second half, but shot ourselves in the foot at the end.”