ROB Atkinson hailed an impressive team display from Oxford United on the night he achieved a personal milestone.

The centre back scored his first professional goal to set the U’s on their way to a 4-1 win over Shrewsbury Town that moved them up to seventh in Sky Bet League One.

Elliot Lee, Matty Taylor and Sam Long were also on target, meaning that, remarkably, each of United’s ten strikes in the victory over the Shropshire side and Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing of Crewe Alexandra came from a different player.

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Shrewsbury provided a stiffer test than the scoreline suggested and Harry Chapman briefly reduced the deficit to 2-1 early in the second half.

But Atkinson thought the U’s responded well as he toasted a successful evening.

The 22-year-old said: “2-0 is probably the most dangerous score in football, because one goal and they’re back in it.

“To bounce back from that setback was really good.

“I felt that they didn’t threaten that much, we got a bit sloppy towards the end, but it was a pretty good performance from top to bottom.”

Atkinson has been a threat from set-pieces all season, without opening his U’s account.

But the former Fulham trainee rose confidently to head home James Henry’s 13th-minute corner and was delighted to contribute.

He said: “I feel like it’s been a long time coming.

“That’s one of the most important things, to feel like you’re going to win the ball and attack it.”

United cut the gap to the play-offs to just three points, although most of their rivals boast games in hand.

The U’s may have to win all of their last five matches to break into the top six and Atkinson hopes they can repeat the seven-game winning league run that propelled them up the table in the middle of the season.

“We need to channel that sort of mentality,” he said.

“Considering the start of the season we had, it’s a real credit to us that we’re still talking about the play-offs.

“We’ve dropped the opportunity a couple of times, so we need to kick on.

“We’ve got five games left and to be in with a shout we’ll probably have to win every single one.”

Karl Robinson was pleased with his side’s threat across the pitch.

The head coach said: “Elliott (Moore) and Rob scoring in consecutive games, and ten different goalscorers, is a great achievement.”