JIM Smith branded Sat- urday's superb display as Oxford United's best of the season.

The U's made it three wins in a row by seeing off Stevenage 2-0.

But it could have been six, and the first half, in particular, was magnificent.

"It was possibly our best all-round performance for 90 minutes," Smith said.

"Their keeper made some fantastic saves, but we eventually got the goal our first-half play deserved.

"We could well have come in two or three up. Then we went on, got the second goal and it was a really good performance."

However, despite United's super showing, they failed to close the gap on leaders Dagenham & Redbridge, who won 4-1 at Southport - where Oxford play tomorrow.

One of the many high- lights of United's play were their set-pieces, with some quality corners which brought one goal from Matt Day, and might easily have produced two or three others.

"We haven't done that all season," Smith said.

"We've got people knocking good balls in there and attacking it right. We've got to keep working on set pieces because they are important."

United also spread the ball around the park beautifully and Stevenage were given the run-around so much they were flattered by the final scoreline.

Eddie Anaclet got No 2, thanks to a big deflection. - on yet another day when both he and his brother, Abingdon United's Anaclet Odhiambo, both found the net.

Smith said: "Matty Day's goal was about only our second off a set play.

"The goal came at an important time because we had so dominated the first half, and it enabled us to play with a bit more com- posure in the second."

Day only got his chance because Barry Quinn was injured, and Smith said: "We've got good compet- ition for places, but we're going to need everybody we've got in March because it's a really heavy pro- gramme. We're hoping that's going to be our key to catching Dagenham.

"Apart from missing a goal he should have got, I thought Danny Rose had an outstanding game.

"All the midfield were good, there was some quality play in there and it was a really good performance."

To cap a super day for United, their youth were crowned Puma Youth Alliance South West champions in the morning, after a thumping 5-0 win over Swansea City.