ROSS Jenkins was delighted to see a change in approach handsomely pay off as Oxford City sealed an historic promotion to Vanarama National League.

The Hoops will play at the highest level in the club’s history next season after blowing away St Albans City in front of a record crowd at Court Place Farm.

An attendance of 3,100 watched on as Reece Fleet, Zac McEachran, Josh Ashby and Josh Parker fired Jenkins’ side into a 4-0 lead at half-time, with the second period of the National League South play-off final merely a formality.

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After the game, former Watford midfielder Jenkins said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better display or performance, I thought we were professional in everything we did – our shape, our play, our goals, we took our chances and could’ve scored another one to make it 5-0.

“We’ll take the 4-0 at home, the victory is what we wanted and we got it.

“It feels good and we keep on moving forward now.

“The message was to manage the game and be professional.

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“We had spells on the ball where we moved it really well and kept our shape really well.

“We tired them out by having them move, by having possession.

“Maybe it went against our principles of sitting deep, but this is a one-off game and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to win a game of football.

“It was the best situation to do that, to frustrate and hit them on the counter, and the boys executed it perfectly.”

The Hoops were ruthless in their finishing, something Jenkins was thrilled by.

“We’ve been disappointed in some games in the past, how we’ve finished opportunities and we’ve missed some key moments and key chances,” he said.

“I thought you could see from the side that we were really going after them and that we wanted it.

“Our shape and our defending basics, and our responsibilities – we ticked those boxes.

“When you do that, you give yourself half a chance of winning a game of football.”

St Albans had large spells where they controlled the play, but failed to break down a stubborn Hoops backline, with Ebbsfleet United loanee Chris Haigh – already a National League South title winner with his parent club this season – a solid last line of defence.

Jenkins said: “In the first half, I think they had half a chance where we did well and Chris made a good save.

“That’s why we brought him in, I knew he had the experience and he’s come from a club that has just done it.

“He’s got two medals now so he’s happy.

“He gives us that calmness and experience at the back.

“When you address the performance first and look after yourself first, the team performance comes with it and the result normally follows.”