OXFORD United blew the Roofe off Swindon Town’s Football League Trophy hopes with a 2-0 win at the Kassam Stadium this evening.

A brace from Kemar Roofe sent Town’s local rivals through, after Jordan Turnbull had earlier seen red for kicking out at Oxford skipper Jake Wright.

The defeat extended Swindon’s run without a win to six games for a side who started the game with eight players missing.

Town handed starts to Anton Rodgers, Drissa Traore, Jermaine Hylton and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and looked comfortable in the opening exchanges.

However, it was the hosts who had the best chance of the opening exchanges as Callum O’Dowda rattled the woodwork in the 12th minute.

The left winger was afforded too much time by Bradley Barry and opted to cut inside before attempting to curl the ball towards the top corner, only to find the crossbar.

Jonathan Obika thought he had given Town the lead in the 22nd minute but the linesman ruled his effort out, after some great link up play between James Brophy and Jermaine Hylton set him up in the box.

Having seen out the opening half-hour without much incident and the home fans starting to quieten Turnbull made it an uphill battle for his side in the 32nd minute.

With the ball having gone behind for a goal-kick, Turnbull and Oxford skipper Wright came together at the back post and it appeared that Turnbull kicked out to leave referee Gavin Ward with no option but to show the Town defender a straight red.

The hosts made the most of the man advantage and started to press Swindon as the half came to a close.

In the 41st minute Oxford found the breakthrough from a throw-in down the left. The ball was played along the floor into the feet of Liam Sercombe in front of goal, who skipped past two challenges before Roofe was on hand to finish low under the body of Lawrence Vigouroux. Swindon were seriously on the back foot now and clinging on for the half-time whistle.

Jordan Graham thought he had doubled the hosts lead when he was given too much time to line up a shot and his curling effort was just tipped onto the post by Vigouroux.

Despite holding on until half time, it took just eight minutes of the second half for Oxford to get a second and it was Roofe on hand again.

Graham was able to play the ball in from the right and it was headed goalwards by the Oxford forward. Vigouroux looked to have got enough on the ball to prevent it going in but it squirmed under the keeper’s legs and trickle over the line.

A man down, Swindon struggled to get their foot on the ball and play the passing style they are accustomed too.

Instead it was Oxford who controlled the possession without really troubling Vigouroux.

There was a worrying moment halfway through the half as Barry went down and had to be stretchered off after receiving treatment on the pitch for at least 10 minutes, handing Momar Bangoura his debut.

Town continued to struggle, with Oxford substitute Patrick Hoban going closest to extending the hosts lead with an audacious chipped effort when Vigouroux was caught off his line, as a damp night ended in disappointment for more than 1,000 travelling fans.

Swindon Town: Vigouroux, Barry (Bangourra 72’), Branco (C), Turnbull, Ormonde-Ottewill, Brophy, Traore, Rodgers, Ajose, Obika, Hylton (Ojamaa 45’ (Balmy 79’))
Unused subs: Belford, Iandolo

Oxford United: Buchel, Baldock, Skarz, Roofe (Ruffels 90+4’), Mullins, Wright (c), Sercombe, O'Dowda, Graham (Macdonald 75’), Lundstrom, Taylor (Hoban 82’)
Unused subs: Stevens, Ruffels, Dunkley

Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 9,013 (1,179)