A first league goal for Shandon Baptiste secured another three points for Oxford United, moving them up to 3rd in the league table.
The 21-year-old’s stunning strike from 25-yards midway through the first half was enough to secure back to back league wins for Karl Robinson’s side, edging past Michael Appleton’s Lincoln City.
Your #oufc XI this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/9HgugELi6s
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) December 26, 2019
Robinson made just one change from the side that beat Wycombe last time out with Matty Taylor replacing Jamie Mackie up-front.
Jordan Archer remained in goal, with Josh Ruffels, who was making his 250th appearance for the club, on the left and Chris Cadden on the right while John Mousinho partnered Rob Dickie in the centre.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat in midfield alongside Cameron Brannagan and Baptiste, with Tariqe Fosu and James Henry as the wingers while Taylor led the line.
The home side began positively from the off, and Baptiste saw an early effort deflected over the bar.
But the visitors, who had lost the reverse fixture 6-0 in what was a record away win in the Football League for the U’s, were certainly more of a threat this time.
Joe Morrell had a shot blocked as Appleton’s side began to find some possession.
Brannagan had two decent efforts in the first half. The first was well saved by Josh Vickers from 20-yards before the goalkeeper again denied the 23-year-old with an effort from just outside the box.
Lincoln wouldn’t have minded that the only U’s chances came from distance, but that was until Baptiste let rip from 25-yards nine minutes before half time. The midfielder was unchallenged in the centre and, although he looked for a pass, the academy graduate struck home a sweet finish that struck the inside of the bar and bounced in.
The U’s pushed for a quick second but Henry failed to connect with an effort from 15-yards following good play from Taylor.
In the second half, the U’s top scorer had another opportunity and it tested the Imps keeper who did well to deny the 30-year-old.
But like last weekend against Wycombe, the longer the U’s failed to add a second goal the more the visitors felt they could find an equaliser.
John Akinde was brought on to partner Tyler Walker upfront – a 16 goal partnership – and the latter was pulled back by Mousinho while racing onto a through ball before the referee issued the U’s skipper with a yellow card.
It began a nervous end to the game for Oxford. Madden made a terrific block on Walker and although the Imps looked stronger, Archer remained untroubled.
But in stoppage time, the goalkeeper missed the corner but Akinde’s header struck the post.
