Oxford United bloodied their two new signings at Forest Green last night, but it was a stunning goal from James Constable and a 14-minute hold-up when the lights went out that the fans were talking about most.

Constable, handed the captain's armband because Adam Murray was rested, raced behind the Rovers defence in the 23rd minute, onto a pass from new signing Francis Green.

Constable then cut in purposefully from the left past Jarad Hodgkiss, and hit a glorious angled shot over the keeper and into the goal.

It was his 14th goal of the season and a reminder just how deadly he is from open play, his previous two goals coming from the penalty spot.

The hold-up came after the stadium was plunged into darkness 42 minutes into the game.

All the lights around the ground went off, not just the floodlights, so it soon became clear that it was a power cut not the home club's fault.

Green's introduction was one of the quickest to an Oxford United game any player has ever made.

He was only signed, on loan from Kettering, four hours before kick-off.

Wearing the No 19 shirt, he lined up on the right of a three-man attack, with Constable in the centre and Jack Midson this time on the left.

Mark Creighton was fit again, following his tight hamstring, to resume in centre defence, but Ross Perry didn't have to make way.

Chris Wilder chose him as a defensive midfielder, just in front of the back four.

It was a very blustery night and United had to play against the strong wind in the first half, which gave the home side a distinct advantage.

Forest Green forced two corners in quick succession at the start, but from open play the ball would often run out of play from any pass they in The slightest overhit.

The first real sighting Oxford had of Terry Burton's goal was from a quick free-kick, which gave Kevin Sandwith the chance to cross after an overlapping run.

Green managed to head it back into the box from deep, but it was comfortably cleared.

Rovers danger man Conal Platt found space to send in a 25-yard shot, but Ryan Clarke got behind it without any alarm.

In the 33rd minute, it needed a fine save from Clarke to prevent Rovers equalising. From a left-wing corner, Ollie Thorne directed a downward header goalwards, and Clarke palmed it out, before it was scrambled clear.

Green was spoken to by the ref for an over-zealous tackle, but that was little compared to the challenge which earned Jonathan Smith a yellow card, and to which Oxford's players reacted angrily.

Green provided a right-wing chipped cross which almost brought Midson a goal, the former Histon striker timing his run well and arriving from deep. He was unlucky with his header, which deflected off a defender's head for a corner.

The stadium was suddenly plunged into darkness in the 42nd minute, leaving the crowd and all those taking part stunned.

IKt soon became clear that it wasn't just a problem with the floodlights and lights around the ground.

All the lights in the neighbouring town and villages had gone out as well, signalling a major power cut.

There were real concerns about safety issues for the crowd, because the only way any spectator could see in front of him was if he had a match or mobile phone.

But after 14 minutes of black, light returned, and the ref soon got players back out onto the pitch to play the remainder of the first half.

Green was booked early in the second half for what the ref deemed to be persistent infringements.

Moments later his burst down the right set up Dannie Bulman for a shot which narrowly missed the right post.

Perry was yellow-carded a few minutes later.

Constable made way for United's other new signing, Onome Sodje, just after the hour, and almost immediately Midson laid on a chance for Green in a fine attack, Green firing in a low left-footed drive that Burton did well to save.

The rain started driving from one end to the other in the second half, making conditions even harder for both teams.

Sodje tried to hook in a shot when Midson's right-wing cross came to him, but it was blocked.

Ten minutes later he thrashed a shot on the turn well wide, but at least he was prepared to shoot.

United saw the game out with few problems, Creighton even managing to beat one opponent with unexpected pace and then a Cruyff turn.

Ten minutes from time, Midson hit a great volley from the left edge of the area that the keeper just kept out with a full-length dive to his left.

Chapman had a 30-yard, wind-assisted free-kick saved, and then right at the death Clarke made an excellent brave save down at the feet of Platt.

In such difficult conditions, this was a very useful win for the U's, and keeps them well placed at the top, especially as the Mansfield-Luton match was one that did fall victim to the weather.