OXFORD United turned on the style to record a first league win over Aldershot on Saturday and climb to tenth in League Two.

And manager Chris Wilder admitted the only thing missing was that touch of ruthlessness to put the game to bed when the U’s were in control.

In the end, United needed another late winner after their opponents had hauled themselves level, Tom Craddock drilling in an 85th-minute clincher in the 2-1 victory, just five days after Jack Midson’s stoppage-time winner at Torquay.

“I was delighted with the play, although we should possibly have been a little bit more dynamic in the final third,” said Wilder, following the team’s third consecutive away win.

“I thought we played some great stuff all afternoon on a heavy pitch, a difficult pitch for passing football.

“But I think we tried to pass and play it, I’m delighted that we’ve done that.”

At times, United’s short passing and movement was as good as they have produced all season, and they seem to be moving up a gear at the halfway stage of the campaign.

“I saw signs at Torquay, when we were popping it about,” said Wilder.

“I felt we should have gone in at half-time more ahead, and when you don’t put games to bed, you’re always in the position that if they score, they’re back in the game.

“We switched off from a throw, and they’ve crossed it in and scored.

“But we’ve gone again. Yet again it shows the character of the side, to dust themselves down and go again, and get that winner.”

And the U’s boss believes the accuracy of passing that led to Craddock’s winner demonstrated the class in the camp.

“That’s Steve Maclean’s quality . . . a lot of players would have gone and tried to smash it, but he picked out Tom with a super pass.

“We’ve got some decent players here, but one of my criticisms is that they just don’t believe in themselves enough sometimes, but maybe that’s just going into the new league.

“But they’re fit, healthy, and they want to play. You could see with the scenes at the end, it’s a good football club at the moment, in good hands off the pitch, and doing well on it.”

l Match report: Pages 38-39 l More reaction & Fan’s View: Page 37