Oxford 2 (Craddock 50, Smalley 87), Northampton 0 Tom Craddock showed what Oxford United have been missing with a well-taken goal to defeat Northampton at the Kassam Stadium today in a game where both sides missed a penalty.

The striker scored five minutes after half-time as the U's recorded their first win since October 29.

Deane Smalley capped a great day with his first goal at the Kassam Stadium three minutes from time.

The only negative was when Craddock horribly skied a penalty six minutes from time - much to the disgust of teammate Peter Leven.

Leven is United's penalty taker, but when Craddock was fouled by John Johnson, he would not give the ball to Leven, and it needed captain Jake Wright to intervene.

And when Craddock placed the ball on the spot, Leven was still visibly fuming as he walked out the area. And you imagine there were some choice words when Craddock missed.

Northampton missed a penalty of their own five minutes into injury time.

Damian Batt was adjudged to have handled, but goalkeeper Ryan Clarke dived full stretch to his left to tip Adebayo Akinfenwa's spot-kick wide of a post.

It certainly wasn't the U's best, most fluid display, but all that mattered was the victory and the three points.

Wilder made three changes to his line-up, Alfie Potter, Rob Hall and Liam Davis coming into the side with Anthony Tonkin and Asa Hall dropping to the bench and Lewis Guy not making the 16.

The opening half was lacking goalmouth action, with the visitors creating the only two real goalscoring chances - and both came within a minute.

Saido Berahino was left unmarked from a 19th-minute corner and his header was nodded off the line by Simon Heslop.

And when United gave the ball away, Berahino was then set free down the left and Ryan Clarke did well to keep his effort out.

The first save visiting keeper Sam Walker had to make was four minutes before half-time.

A well-worked short corner Simon Heslop and Peter Leven play a neat one-two, and Heslop's shot was well saved low down by Walker.

However, Craddock's goal at the start of the second period eased United's worries.

Although both sides huffed and puffed, clear-cut opportunities were at a premium until the final minutes.

Craddock should have made it safe when he was fouled by Johnson, but put his penalty high and wide.

James Constable then fell over the ball when through on goal and there were some nervous supporters having seen two glorious chances go begging.

However, Constable then unselfishly played the ball across goal and the onrushing Smalley slid in to score his first home goal.

In injury time it should have been three, subsitute Anthony Tonkin playing in Simon Heslop, but he shot wide.

But Clarke's save from Akinfenwa's spot-kick was the icing on the cake.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Batt, Whing, Wright, Davis, Heslop, Leven, Potter (Smalley 83), Constable, Craddock (Tonkin 90), R Hall (A Hall 72). Subs not used: Pittman, Worley. Booked: Heslop, Whing, Constable.

Northampton (4-3-2-1): Walker; Crowe, Johnson, Tozer, Holt (Young 83); Turnbull, McCoy (Robinson 69), Davies; Jacobs, Berahino; Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Corker, Purcell, F Hall. Booked: Akinfenwa, Johnson.

Attendance: 7,517 (748 from Northampton).