Constable up to third (From Banbury Cake)
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Constable up to third
10:00am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in U's News
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
United’s James Constable (right) celebrates his historic goal against Plymouth on Saturday that took him third on United’s all-time list
James Constable, now third on Oxford United’s all-time list of scorers, believes he and strike partner Tom Craddock can both still get to 20 goals this season.
The pair have 23 between them so far, but injury and suspension means they have only started together twice since New Year’s Day.
They were reunited in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Plymouth, where Constable scored the winner to take his tally for the campaign to 11, one behind Craddock.
The goal was his 91st for the club, making him United’s third most prolific marksman.
The form of the front two could be the key if United are going to stage a dramatic climb up the table in the final weeks of the season.
With 14 games left, Constable, known as ‘Beano’ to the fans, thinks the squad could have two players breaking the 20-goal barrier by the end of April.
He said: “We have still got enough games to be able to do that, especially with the number of chances we create. “We probably make more than any other team in the league.
“I’m sure if we keep doing that, we’ll put them away.”
The former Shrewsbury striker is now clear of John Aldridge and Peter Foley in United’s all-time list, the latter tweeting: “well done Beano, one more than me, now get that 100 #topstrikers.”
If he does hit 20 goals this season it would bring up a century for the U’s and put him joint second in the list, alongside Tony Jones.
More importantly, the goal at Home Park ended the side’s six-game wait for a victory.
United’s hopes of reaching the npower League Two play-offs had been damaged by a run of four defeats in five winless games and they sit firmly in mid-table with just under a third of the season left.
Constable knows there is little margin for error if they are going to reel in the sides above, but he is confident Saturday’s win can be the catalyst to repeat a strong run over the Christmas period.
“We said before the (Plymouth) game, it’s now or never,” he said.
“We need to get another run going and we know we’ve got the players to do it.
“There’s no change from the lads who were there when we went ten unbeaten.
“There are still plenty of games.
“They will come thick and fast, but the fact we’ve got that win means we can look forward to the next one.”
UNITED'S ALL-TIME TOP MARKSMEN
Graham Atkinson 398 games, 107 goals; Tony Jones 356, 100; James Constable 218, 91; John Aldridge 141, 90; Peter Foley 321, 90.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (31)
10:49am Tue 19 Feb 13
saddletramp says...
Constable scored against Histon,Grays and Barrow.
His total also includes FA trophy games and the associate members cup,wow!
He also says he hopes to score 20 goals his season,well you have managed
6 league goals this season James,and with Oxford out Of the Associate members cup,no more shoe ins.
James Constable 32 league goals(all in the bottom Division)
John Aldridge 74 league goals (39 in the top flight)
No comparison.
11:42am Tue 19 Feb 13
GRB says...
Aldridge was an exceptional striker, one of the best British football has ever seen. I think it's a bit stupid to mock Constable by comparing him to Aldo.
12:42pm Tue 19 Feb 13
bigchet says...
1:12pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Grandpont Tom says...
If he and Tom get another 17 goals this season, between them, then we will all be very happy.
1:13pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Megastar07 says...
Mega and Brooks 1992 now there's a partnership Witney and district legends
1:29pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Manor Born says...
1:40pm Tue 19 Feb 13
london_yellow says...
3:26pm Tue 19 Feb 13
YellowRose says...
4:44pm Tue 19 Feb 13
moonlight shadow says...
Keep going Beano.
5:43pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Richard Wickson says...
5:49pm Tue 19 Feb 13
oldun says...
Yep he has scored more than so many of our ‘strikers’
Pity that he is nowhere near to the twenty five best striker even in our League Years – is he?
Nonetheless, a goal is a goal whether it is against Norwich or Northwich.
Twenty five better?
Just for starters
Playing in the Conference or 4th division the following would have scored more than James in his number of games - the not too talented midfielder Matt Murphy or the clumsy Steve Biggins, Mark Stein , John Durnin, winger Paul Simpson, the Nigels Cassidy and Jemson, the Deans Saunders and Windass, Hugh Curran, Graham Atkinson, the Aldridges, Paul Moody, Bud Houghton (43 goals in 42 matches as we got into the league) , Tommy Mooney, the Bills Calder and Hamilton, Colin Booth, Derek Clarke, Martin Foyle, Peter Foley, Mick Tait, Mick Vinter , Neil Whatmore and Andy Thomas. Nonetheless, he has probably got even more than Jack Midson might have had he played as the central striker. Many more, please James . Keep up the hard work - some of the above named were lazy at times
6:06pm Tue 19 Feb 13
oldun says...
7:45pm Tue 19 Feb 13
kckidlington says...
9:25pm Tue 19 Feb 13
oldun says...
9:59pm Tue 19 Feb 13
karatavuk says...
Here's hoping you get the record and become an Oxford all time legend.
11:05pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Chippenham red says...
6:28am Wed 20 Feb 13
Chish and Fips says...
Its quite usual for the back room staff to follow their manager in most cases or get booted out when the new manager takes over.
I don't see a 1990 style as that was a different scenario but hopefully IMO we don't get promoted but remain a fantastic L1 (Div3 for you Oldun) team for another season.
Happy Days are just round the corner ..... I think :0/
9:39am Wed 20 Feb 13
moonlight shadow says...
Also the game has changed a lot since the likes of The aforementioned players from the glory days. The woosie football rules these days ( look nastily at an opponent these days and it's a red card) do the game as a whole no favours as a specticle.Briggsy would not last any game 5 mins today, mores the pity.
So to comapre the present situation and that of years ago is a bit false, given the fact players can hardly make a tackle these days and where we find ourselves thanks to a certain ex-owner.
How about a hat-trick on Saturday Beano? Would be good.
9:58am Wed 20 Feb 13
GRB says...
10:51am Wed 20 Feb 13
oldun says...
2:08pm Wed 20 Feb 13
bigchet says...
4:10pm Wed 20 Feb 13
moonlight shadow says...
What a horible thought!
4:30pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Chish and Fips says...
All may become clear one day on the story of the desertion - there's always 2 sides to a disagreement .
50 50 seems to be the opinion on whether he jumped ship because things got nasty, water under the bridge now really we have to regroup and march on -
He has bought in some fantastic players who have jelled together as a unit - but again he did bring in some right donkeys, which we have got rid of or loaned out, which was a waste of money.
4:38pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Chish and Fips says...
5:55pm Wed 20 Feb 13
bigchet says...
7:19pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Chish and Fips says...
We have in the past and including PDC taken punts on newbies , Lou Macari , Ossi Ardilles Glen Hoddles of the world, this time we can not afford to take that gamble .... just hope we don't get some cheap 'has been' or unheard of bod.
Seems a quiet week for you lot this week - come to Swindon and hop on the roller coaster - hang on to your hats though - never a dull moment with the STFC... ;o)
7:25pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Chish and Fips says...
Can't stand that bloke Bates would not trust him as far as I could throw him.
I thought he'd been bought out at Leeds.
7:43pm Wed 20 Feb 13
oldun says...
8:00pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Chish and Fips says...
I'm no spring chicken too.
I will own up, and say my Great Grandfather was born and grew up in Oxford (St Aldgates was/is it) but then moved to London when in his teens.
Good luck mate...
8:13pm Wed 20 Feb 13
oldun says...
8:54pm Wed 20 Feb 13
bigchet says...