POLICE were out in force to make sure there was no trouble following York City's crunch clash with Oxford United.

There was a massive police presence around the KitKat Crescent football ground and in the city centre before, during and after the match - which saw York qualify for a play-off place with a 1-0 victory.

More than 5,300 fans watched the match - about double City's normal home gate.

Dozens of extra police officers patrolled the streets of the city centre on foot in high-visibility jackets while others patrolled Clifton in cars and vans.

Officers also escorted away fans from the railway station to the ground and horses from West Yorkshire Police's mounted unit were drafted in to help with crowds near the ground.

Some York City fans invaded the pitch after the match, but were quickly broken up by police officers and stewards.

The police had been keen to prevent a flare-up of the disorder which broke out after the two teams met at Oxford's Kassam Stadium in September last year. It led to at least eight York City fans being given three-year football banning orders.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said there were only two arrests for minor public order offences. Inspector Simon Lovell, who was working in the force control room until 11pm on Saturday, said there had been very little trouble.

He said: "I'm not aware of any significant trouble following the match.

"We did not have to deal with any significant public order issues.

"It was very much just a normal Saturday night in York and there was nothing as a result of the celebrations after the football.

"The Oxford fans all went on their way peacefully after the match."

Extra police officers and special constables were drafted in to help police the match and a public order unit - with about eight police officers in riot gear - was on standby all day.

Ahead of the game Chief Inspector Dave Hall, of York Police, who was in charge of the operation, said there would be a more significant police presence at the game than usual because of the recent history between the two teams and because of the high-profile level of the game, with York City competing for a play off place.

The Press told in February how eight York City fans, including a 16-year-old, were banned from watching football matches for a combined total of 24 years and fined more than £4,000 between them earlier this year.

They were arrested following the match between Oxford United and York City on September 30 last year.

Trouble erupted after the match when the group was refused entry to The Priory pub in Oxford.