JAMES ROBERTS' second-half strike made it three wins from three pre-season games for Oxford United as they beat a spirited Didcot Town side 1-0 at Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium.

United are four leagues above Calor League Division One South & West side Didcot but were unable to make that difference tell in an entertaining first half.

Although Oxford enjoyed the majority of possession and chances it was the home side who came closest to finding the net in the opening 45 minutes, with Ryan Brooks poking narrowly wide after getting the wrong side of the U's defence.

Youngsters Sam Humphreys and Tyrone Marsh both looked lively but were denied by in-form Didcot keeper James Foster.

However, it was another teenager, James Roberts, who finally made the breakthrough for the visitors, turning in a crowded area before firing neatly into the far corner.

This sparked a host of changes from both sides, with Didcot substituting five and United changing all 10 outfield players as they had done at Oxford City on Tuesday.

But despite the injection of fresh legs there was precious little incident in the final half-hour and United were able to comfortably see out the victory.

Didcot: Foster (Williams 56), Elkins (Bernasconi 56), Organ, McKirnan (Self 56), Carnell, Learoyd, Haysham, Clarke (Parish 56), Mills, Brooks, Whitehead (Baines 56).

Oxford: Crocombe, Hunt (Bevans 58), Long (Newey 58), Wright (Mullins 58), Meades (Raynes 58), Ashby (Rose 58), Ruffels (Collins 58), O'Dowda (Hylton 58), Marsh (Shama 58), Humphreys (Potter 58), J Roberts (Hawtin 58). Subs not used: L Roberts.

Ref: D Leach.

Attendance: 571.