OXFORD United ended their wait for a home win by finishing strongly to sweep struggling York City aside for their biggest Kassam Stadium victory in more than three years.

Jordan Bowery continued his fine form by opening the scoring early on, but while United remained in control they had to wait until the closing stages to get their reward.

Chey Dunkley bagged the all-important second goal and he was quickly joined on the scoresheet by Danny Hylton and Kemar Roofe.

This was just what United needed having gone since Boxing Day without tasting victory in the league at home.

It was the biggest winning margin in front of their own fans since a 5-0 win in October 2012.

Their opponents that day were Accrington Stanley, who were one of several promotion rivals to drop points on a very good night which saw United move second in the Sky Bet League Two table.

Bowery returned to the starting line-up in the only change from Saturday's 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon.

Chris Maguire made way and dropped to the bench, where top scorer Roofe made a welcome return.

United spoke of the need for a quick start in the build-up to the game and less than two minutes were on the clock when Bowery fired wide after a flick from Hylton.

The strike partnership had only started together once before, but combined again on 13 minutes for what should have been the opening goal.

Hylton did superbly to chase down Dave Winfield trying to shepherd the ball out of play.

Having picked his pocket, the forward ran into the area, but with Bowery arriving for a tap-in Hylton's pass was over-hit.

York survived, but only for another two minutes.

A quick move saw Hylton run on to a ball over the top from Alex MacDonald and find Callum O'Dowda.

The winger took an age to pull the trigger but when the shot came in goalkeeper Michael Ingham could only parry, where Bowery was lurking to cushion the ball into the net with his thigh from six yards.

It was the January signing's sixth goal for United and his first at the Kassam Stadium.

  • Oxford United's players and supporters celebrate the win after the final whistle

Getting in front was just what the hosts craved, but they were unable to build on the advantage.

York, playing Bradley Fewster on his own up front, saw plenty of the ball.

But the sum total of United goalkeeper Benji Buchel's work before half-time was a corner he punched clear and a series of routine clearances.

Goalmouth action at either end was at a premium until the 35th minute, when United piled the pressure on.

From one scramble Liam Sercombe and Jonjoe Kenny had shots blocked by a combination of Ingham and his centre backs.

Seconds later when the ball came back into the area Ingham had to save from Hylton, before gathering Kenny's attempt on the rebound from an acute angle.

United's search for the insurance of a second goal continued after half-time.

Dunkley headed wide from an early corner, while Hylton fired over off-balance after good work from Bowery and O'Dowda.

Roofe made his return after two games out just after the hour mark as Michael Appleton looked to his top scorer to kill the game off.

York, who had brought on a second striker in Vadaine Oliver, continued to look lightweight but the longer it remained 1-0 the more nervous the home fans became.

In response, United found another gear.

Although Ingham saved a header from Sercombe, from the next attack United won a corner.

Roofe delivered with quality to pick out Dunkley, who powered a header home from close range.

The majority inside the Kassam Stadium breathed a sigh of relief and United went on to enjoy themselves.

Hylton made it 3-0 six minutes later with a glorious finish curled into the far corner after cutting in from the left.

York were in a sorry state, but it got worse for them six minutes from time.

When Ruffels had a shot saved by Ingham, Roofe was there to tap into an unguarded net and seal a superb evening's work for United.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Buchel, Kenny, Dunkley, Mullins, Skarz, MacDonald, Sercombe, Ruffels, O'Dowda, Hylton, Bowery.

Subs used: Roofe (MacDonald 63), Waring (Bowery 74), Evans (Skarz 81).

Unused subs: Slocombe, Ashby, Maguire, Ismail. Booked: Skarz.

York City (4-1-4-1): Ingham, Hendrie, Winfield, Boyle, Cameron, Summerfield, Coulson, Berrett (Galbraith 74), Penn, Ilesanmi (Oliver 54), Fewster.

Unused subs: Flinders, Dixon, McEvoy, Hyde, Carson.

Booked: None.

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).

Attendance: 5,654 (171 visitors).