KANE Hemmings came off the bench to bag a late winner as Oxford United beat Milton Keynes Dons to claim their fifth successive victory.

The striker nodded in Rob Hall’s cross for his 14th goal of the season to break the deadlock in the 88th minute.

United, who had started slowly, were good value for their win against a Dons side whose bright opening gave way to running down the clock in search of a point.

The margin of victory should have been even greater after Darren Potter was sent off for bringing Hall down in the box.

Chris Maguire saw his penalty saved deep into stoppage-time, but it was not costly as United won five games on the spin for the first time since April 2008.

Oxford Mail:

  • Rob Hall is tripped by Darren Potter for United's late penalty

An unchanged United were looking to pick up where they had left off at the County Ground six days earlier, but instead needed Simon Eastwood in fine form early on.

Just three minutes were on the clock when the goalkeeper added another stunning stop to his collecting from this season, denying Chuks Aneke with a strong left wrist.

The early chance had come via the impressive teenager Harvey Barnes.

The Leicester City loanee was at it again shortly afterwards, robbing Phil Edwards and running clear down the left, but he could not find a red shirt with his cross.

Dons clearly looked to target Marvin Johnson, who was on the end of a couple of robust challenges early on.

The next clear chance came down his flank, when a typical surge forward from ex-U’s loanee George Baldock set up Stuart O’Keefe, who blazed off target from an acute angle.

United had hardly threatened in the opening 20 minutes, but warmed to their task after Toni Martinez fired just wide from Maguire’s pass.

The Spanish striker showed his class on the half-hour mark.

After latching on to a poor clearance 20 yards out, he showed great technique on the volley, which goalkeeper David Martin kept out at full stretch diving to his right.

It was the cue for a good spell from the home side.

Maguire had a free-kick deflected wide and from the corner he engineered a shooting chance which struck a defender.

Hall, a former Dons loanee who was booed relentlessly by the away fans, came close to silencing the critics with a powerful long-range shot, which Martin saved.

United’s growing confidence was demonstrated by a step-over from Chey Dunkley. It launched an attack and although the centre back charged forward, the ball went to the right flank, where Liam Sercombe set up Ryan Ledson to shoot wide.

The hosts appealed for a penalty late in the half when Maguire lured Ed Upson into a challenge, which the officials eventually decided was just outside the box.

From the set piece, Hall squared for Maguire, whose shot found the car park.

The Scot came closer with an effort right at the start of the second half, but his bouncing effort was a yard wide.

Martin was needed eight minutes later when Hall’s mis-hit cross forced the goalkeeper to tip over the crossbar.

From the resulting corner Maguire found Curtis Nelson alone at the back post, but the centre back headed wide from close range.

It was a big chance, particularly as the game then lost its way amid a series of fouls.

Ledson received one of the most baffling bookings of the season after going down with a bang to the head.

Referee Trevor Kettle stopped the game, but although the midfielder made it clear he did not need treatment the official insisted U’s physio Andrew Proctor came on to the field, before showing Ledson a yellow card as he trudged off.

Defences were firmly on top, despite both sides making attacking changes.

But two minutes from time, one of the fresh faces made the difference.

Hall got in down the right and was fouled by George Williams. Although Maguire’s free-kick was cleared, Hall got the ball back and curled in a cross which Hemmings guided into the far corner.

Hall looked to stick the knife in further when he scorched clear in stoppage-time.

Potter denied him a goal, but his lunge in the box earned the Dons midfielder his second booking.

Maguire saw his penalty well saved, but it hardly mattered – the three points were confirmed seconds later.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Johnson, Sercombe, Lundstram, Ledson, Maguire, Hall, Martinez.

Subs used: McAleny (Sercombe 73), Hemmings (Martinez 73).

Unused subs: Stevens, Skarz, Raglan, Ruffels, Rothwell.

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin, Baldock, Walsh, Downing, Williams, Upson, Potter, O’Keefe, Aneke (Muirhead 79), Barnes, Maynard (Agard 70).

Unused subs: Nicholls, Ngombo, Bowditch, Brittain, Tilney.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Leicestershire).

Attendance: 9,179 (1,350 visitors).