James Constable admitted that, for one brief moment, he feared he’d scored too soon at the Kassam Stadium on Monday!

The talismanic striker smashed in Oxford United’s second goal, and that came as a big relief to the home fans, because it put real daylight between the U’s and Rushden - and clinched victory in the Blue Square Premier play-off semi-final.

After the goal celebrations, though, ‘Beano’ was concerned.

“I knew it had come quite soon after Matt’s goal and I felt it may have been too soon in the game because we were 2-0 up with half an hour to go.

“But the way we played at the back, and the whole team really, we weren’t going to concede today, and I’m just absolutely delighted to get the win.

“It was a great result and nice to be able to go around and celebrate with the fans at the end.”

United were positive from the off, but that was the game plan, Constable said.

“The plan was just to go at ’em. We saw how Rushden were after the first leg – they were holding on for the last 20-25 minutes and they didn’t really look like scoring. And I didn’t think they looked like scoring today either.

“So we knew, if we scored, and kept a clean sheet, we would win the game.”

Constable says the team’s strong defence in recent matches has given them great confidence.

The only goals conceded in United’s last ten and a half hours of football have been a dodgy penalty at Eastbourne, and a dodgy equaliser at Nene Park.

“I think we looked solid even when they had the ball, and they were going at us,” Constable said. “I didn’t think they put us under any pressure at any time, really.”

There was extra satisfaction for Jack Midson and him because the Rushden left back, Kurt Robinson, had said on the eve of the first leg that neither Oxford striker was particularly special.

Diamonds boss Justin Edinburgh dropped Robinson for the second leg.

“I think those comments spurred us on,” Constable said.

“Wembley’s going to be an amazing feeling. The last time I was there, with Kidderminster, I scored but was on the losing side. I’m desperate to put that right this time.”