OXFORD UNITED 0, SWINDON TOWN 2: Two rockets from the boot of Steve Robinson lit up an already explosive afternoon at the Manor Ground.

Andy King's side did their survival chances the power of good after taking three points from a game packed with drama and controversy.

Wonderful goals, two dismissals and a stoppage caused by coins raining down on Steve Mildenhall's head ensured this final game between the old rivals at the Manor will never be forgotten.

An afternoon that had started so brightly for Town could have turned sour in spectacular style as tempers boiled over both on and off the field.

The visitors certainly needed the cushion of Robinson's injury time goal as Town had threatened to buckle under the onslaught of nine-man Oxford.

Only two terrific point blank stops from Mildenhall in the final minute prevented the home side from snatching a most unlikely point.

Town dominated the first half and should have had more to show for their efforts than a one-goal lead.

King adopted an attacking line-up, choosing to play Michael Reddy, Gary Alexander and Giuliano Grazioli.

Sol Davis returned to the side after injury, as did Ian Woan, adding a touch of class to the midfield.

However, it was Woan's midfield partner Robinson who stole the show.

The 26-year-old was quite superb, winning tackles and making intelligent use of the ball.

Town pushed forward from the first whistle and Reddy and Grazioli almost combined to give the visitors the lead after barely 10 seconds.

Reddy won possession on the right byline and laid the ball back for the waiting Grazioli. Unfortunately, Oxford's Wayne Hatswell was on hand to clear the danger.

Grazioli should have done better in the fourth minute, flicking an effort wide of the post, with Reddy again acting as provider.

Despite all Town's early pressure, David Kemp's struggling side should have taken the lead on 11 minutes. Hatswell floated in a free kick from the left flank and Anthrobus missed a wonderful chance to head his side in front.

The momentum was all with King's side, however, and Alexander saw a goalbound effort blocked in the 20th minute, with Hewlett also going close four minutes later.

The home side struggled to cope with Reddy's pace and the young Irish striker was unceremoniously hauled to the floor by Oxford skipper Patterson in the 27th minute, resulted in a yellow card for the U's captain and triggering a busy afternoon of scribbling and card-waving for referee Paul Rejer.

Eventually the visitors' pressure paid off when they took the lead just before the half hour.

Davis, who made a number of marauding runs down the left flank, put in a cross which was headed clear by Patterson.

The ball dropped to Steve Robinson on the edge of the box and 'Turbo' thrashed a terrific volley past Oxford keeper Richard Knight into the bottom left hand corner.

While the Town fans, massed in the Cuckoo Lane end were still celebrating, Alexander almost doubled the lead. The 21-year-old turning sharply in the box before crashing a shot against the outside of Knight's right post.

Town were firmly in the driving seat and their hopes of three points were increased six minutes before the interval when Dean Whitehead kicked out at Robinson and the referee had no hesitation in pulling out the red card.

Town sought to capitalise on their one-man advantage and Alexander hammered a shot wide of goal from a tight angle soon after the re-start.

While it was good to see Woan back in the side, the former Nottingham Forest man had clearly left his shooting boots back in Swindon. His 52nd minute strike flew high into the visiting section and the same player was guilty of further wayward shooting later in the match.

Reddy and Alexander both went agonisingly close to increasing Town's lead but the final half hour threatened to undermine all the visitors good work.

In the 63rd minute Alan Reeves caught Phil Gray with his arm and the hostility brewing off the terraces was hardly soothed when the referee only produced a yellow card.

Matt Murphy's disgust earned him a booking but the referee seemed to forget that he had already booked the player for a foul on Davis in the first half.

The Town party pointed out the error of Mr Rejer's ways and Murphy was promptly given his marching orders. This decision enraged the Oxford fans behind Mildenhall's goal and the Town keeper found himself the target of bottles and coins being hurled from the terraces.

Being reduced to nine men seemed to stir Oxford to greater efforts and Town suddenly found themselves on the back foot.

The flowing football of the first half was replaced by the all too familiar anxiety which has haunted King's side this season.

Oxford introduced former Town winger Joey Beauchamp and it was he who provided the home side with an added threat.

With Mildenhall's goalmouth increasingly filling up like a wishing well the referee called a halt to proceedings for three minutes to add to all the drama.

This allowed the police and stewards to restore order and to let tempers cool on the field.

The stoppage did nothing, however, to dampen Oxford's determination to prise at least a point from the contest.

With seven minutes remaining, Davis flattened Hatswell on the edge of the box but Beauchamp wasted a great chance by firing the free kick into the Town wall.

The long stoppage had meant an anxious seven minutes of added time for King's men to survive and it was no surprise that the final throes of the match were just as dramatic as the earlier installments.

Mildenhall made a fantastic double save to deny Robertson and Patterson as Town struggled to clear their lines and at the other end Robinson wasted a glorious chance to make the game safe, shooting straight at the keeper when well placed.

However, the same player made amends just moments later. Danny Invincible, who had to be content with a role as a late substitute, pumped over a cross from the left which Robinson met with the sweetest of volleys at the far post.

Town were left to celebrate a wonderful derby day victory while Oxford's fate was all but sealed.