Former Nene Park loanee Barry Quinn opened the scoring just before half-time and Phil Trainer doubled Oxford United's advantage nine minutes after the break.

Daryl Clare's 25-yard free-kick quickly reduced the deficit. But Jelleyman's second bookable offence with 11 minutes to go left Diamonds down to 10 men and ended any hope of a fightback at the Kassam Stadium.

Diamonds boss Garry Hill made four changes following Monday's disappointing draw at home to Altrincham.

On-loan Dale Roberts returned in goal to replace Alan Marriott while Jelleyman, Phil Gulliver and Marcus Kelly were included ahead of former Oxford pair Michael Corcoran and Andy Burgess plus Phil Gulliver.

Roberts showed his quality with three early saves while Diamonds failed to produce a single shot on target in the first half.

Jamie Guy held off Sagi Burton before being denied by Roberts who then produced a superb one-handed parry at the far post from Trainer.

Another error by Burton allowed Lewis Haldane to test Roberts again. But the deadlock was finally broken from a set-piece on 39 minutes.

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Former Northampton Town defender Chris Carruthers – who grew up in Raunds – delivered a corner which Quinn headed home with Roberts stranded and Chris Hope unable to keep it out on the line.

Haldane sent a 25-yard free-kick over the bar and at the start of the second period Diamonds captain Curtis Woodhouse burst into the box for a low shot straight to Billy Turley.

Hill switched to a 3-4-3 formation but the Diamonds defence was caught out as Trainer fired past Roberts into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, though, Clare curled a free-kick beyond Turley and on 63 minutes Leon Knight should have equalised. He beat Turley but Carruthers cleared off the line.

Jelleyman was dismissed and Haldane hit the bar. But there was no way back for Diamonds after a poor first-half performance.


Full match verdict in Monday's Evening Telegraph

OXFORD: Turley; Clarke, Foster, Quinn (sub Willmott, 67 mins), Carruthers; Odubade, Murray, Burnell, Trainer; Haldane, Guy. Subs not used: Hinchliffe, Deering, Taylor, Hutchinson.

DIAMONDS: Roberts; Osano, Hope, Burton (sub Phillips, 52 mins), Jelleyman; Tomlin (sub Burgess, 69 mins), Wolleaston, Woodhouse, Kelly; Clare (sub Rankine, 67 mins), Knight. Subs not used: Gulliver, Corcoran.

REFEREE: Mr D Coote.

GOALS: Quinn (39 mins, 1-0), Trainer (54 mins, 2-0), Clare (56 mins, 2-1).

SENDING-OFF: Jelleyman (second bookable offence).

BOOKINGS: Jelleyman, Burgess (fouls), Odubade (diving).

ATTENDANCE: 4,645 (away fans 352).