This was just what the doctor ordered as Oxford United got back to their best with a comprehensive win at the New Rec.

Simon Clist, the midfielder who so often pops up with a vital away goal, put them in front in the 19th minute, and Alfie Potter bagged his fourth goal in seven league starts with a similar low shot finish 15 seconds into the second half.

James Constable then put the icing on the cake with his 19th goal of the season three minutes from time, from a tight finish.

Matt Green got a fourth goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time - with a great left-footed shot from the edge of the box that nestled in the bottom corner.

Rhys Day, Sam Deering and Jack Midson all came straight into the starting line-up, with Day replacing Mark Creighton at centre back, and Deering operating just behind Constable, who had Midson to his left.

Grays, who had made eight signings in the past few days, had an astonishing six new players, including the goalkeeper, making their debuts.

In their line-up were former Oxford United duo Jamie Guy and Alex Rhodes. The visitors had three decent appeals for a penalty in the opening ten minutes, with the first of them, Constable having his arm pulled back inside the box, the most clear-cut.

But each time referee Ian Cooper waved play on.

Damian Batt, back at his old club, hit a terrific long-range drive just over before the U's took the lead in the 19th minute.

It was good tenacity from Dannie Bulman, Alfie Potter and Deering to keep a scrappy attack going, and Clist was alert to see half a chance in the crowded penalty area, and poked home a low left-footed shot from ten yards.

Clist then came to the rescue at the other end by clearing off the line when Guy turned and shot following Grays' first corner.

The Essex outfit forced four corners in succession, thanks to some good flag-kick deliveries.

Batt evidently fancied himself to score on a ground he knows well and he was again not far away with a stunning 30-yard drive, after a free-kick was played short to him.

The free-kick was earned by a typically refreshing mazy run from Deering, ended illegally by Paulo Vernazza which brought the Grays midfielder a yellow card.

Oxford were controlling the play, and Day should have made it 2-0 on 34 minutes when Clist's excellent right-wing corner dropped to the defender at the far post. He probably wasn't expecting it to go over everyone's head, and when he got his boot to it, he could only direct it away from the goal rather than into it.

United were looking comfortable, but remembering Salisbury, they needed a second goal to feel the points were safe, and they got it immediately the second half started.

Barely 15 seconds after the restart Potter sensed that keeper Richard Martin would be partly unsighted and curled a low shot past him from the edge of the box.

It was the perfect start to the second half, as they had caught Grays asleep, and a couple of minutes later, Midson found himself in a good position, but couldn't beat the keeper.

The New Rec is a ground in hardly the most salubrious of surroundings, with unattractive blocks of flats overlooking one side of the pitch.

And on one of the dozens of balconies outside these apartments was a washing line with that day's washing getting some "fresh" air.

So there was a certain inevitability that when a Grays defender cleared the ball out of the ground, it would land in the washing, which is just what happened, to bring a mighty cheer from the by now very happy Oxford fans.

Deering, who had been excellent, fired a ferocious shot just wide near the end, and Bulman struck an even more impreeive shot, from 22 yards, that Martin pushed to one side.

This was Oxford's first win in four attempts at Grays, and the panacea to all the recent worries.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Batt, Day, Wright, Tonkin, Potter (M Green 73), Bulman, Deering, Clist (Sandwith 85), Constable, Midson (Creighton 90). Subs not used: Turley, Cook.

Booked: None.

Referee: Ian Cooper (Kent).