SHANDON Baptiste landed a stunning knockout blow as Oxford United’s happy Christmas continued with a hard-fought victory over Lincoln City on Boxing Day.

The midfielder fired a 25-yard effort in off the crossbar nine minutes before the break to settle the contest.

United moved up to third in Sky Bet League One as a result, but they did not have it all their own way.

Michael Appleton made life awkward on his first return to the Kassam Stadium, with Lincoln piling forward in the second half in search of an equaliser.

But United’s solid defence stood firm once again, helped by some indifferent delivery in the final third from the visitors.

It was a struggle at times late on, with the Imps hitting the woodwork in the final moments, but a second home win in five days rewarded another big crowd.

Matty Taylor replaced Jamie Mackie in the only United change from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers.

The hosts settled quickly and Baptiste got his eye in early on with a run and shot which was deflected over the crossbar.

Lincoln conceded several early set pieces and when Cian Bolger flicked one back to Josh Vickers, it looked like the referee had blown for a backpass. But when the drama subsided the officials had penalised United for an infringement at the set piece.

The visitors looked far better organised than they had been in September, but as you would expect from an Appleton side they looked after the ball well.

While they had come with a plan to frustrate, unlike some away sides at the Kassam Stadium they got forward in numbers when given the chance.

Joe Morrell had a shot well blocked as the Imps got back into a game which began to resemble a chess match.

United had to be patient, but did carve out the clearer openings.

Cameron Brannagan fizzed a low left-footed effort from 20 yards just wide, before the midfielder forced a smart save from Vickers to tip over another effort from outside the box.

Despite the goalkeeper’s efforts, Lincoln would have felt happy that United’s threat had come from range.

But nine minutes before the break another rocket from 25 yards did the damage.

Baptiste looked around for a better option, but when none were forthcoming the midfielder let fly with a shot which was out of Vickers’ grasp and flicked into the net off the crossbar.

It was a spectacular way for the 21-year-old to claim his first senior league goal.

United went hunting for a quick second and Taylor laid on a chance for James Henry, whose shot from 15 yards was weak.

He made a better fist of another shooting opportunity after the break, but after good work from Taylor the U’s top scorer’s low effort was well saved by Vickers.

But just as against Wycombe on Saturday, the home side were unable to dominate after coming out for the second half 1-0 up.

It was an even contest, with neither side able to really get on top.

That meant Lincoln were still well in the game and Appleton brought on John Akinde to add power up front.

But it was the pace of his strike partner Tyler Walker who caused problems 19 minutes from time. A through ball threatened to send him clear and John Mousinho pulled him back.

The U’s skipper calculated Cadden’s presence meant he would only get a booking and, to Lincoln’s dismay, the referee agreed.

It was the start of a nervous final spell for the home side, who lost their rhythm and were left to increasingly rely on scrapping their way towards the final whistle.

Cadden made an excellent block on Walker as the Imps turned up the pressure, although goalkeeper Jordan Archer was relatively untested.

That was until stoppage time, when the goalkeeper missed a corner and Akinde won the header, only to see it hit the post.

Oxford Utd (4-3-3): Archer, Cadden, Dickie, Mousinho, Ruffels, Gorrin, Brannagan, Baptiste, Henry (Sykes 66), Taylor (Mackie 73), Fosu (Moore 85).

Unused subs: Stevens, Long, Hall, Agyei.

Booked: Mousinho, Baptiste.

Lincoln C (4-4-1-1): Vickers, Eardley, Bostwick, Bolger, Toffolo, Anderson, Morrell, O’Connor (Akinde 60), Grant, Hesketh (Payne 73), Walker.

Unused subs: Smith, Pett, Chapman, Connolly, Melbourne.

Booked: O’Connor, Morrell.

Referee: Will Finnie (Northumberland).

Attendance: 10,115 (630 visitors).