JUBILANT Oxford United manager Chris Wilder is predicting York City will be a “real force” in next season’s Blue Square Premier.

Wilder watched his Oxford team secure a 3-1 play-off final victory over the Minstermen with a stoppage-time effort from substitute Alfie Potter following first-half goals from Matt Green and James Constable.

The result saw Oxford clinch promotion back to the Football League at City’s expense but Wilder feels yesterday’s beaten finalists can emulate his team’s achievement in 12 months’ time under the current managerial team.

He said: “We had to fight every inch to win back our Football League status.

“York are an excellent side and it has been a great turnaround from them being near the bottom of the league last season. It does not surprise me that Martin (Foyle) has done that.

“I imagine they will kick on again next season and be a real force in the division. Martin and Andy Porter are good football men, who do things the right way, unlike some others at this level.

“Like us, they don’t give it the big one. They just keep quiet and get on with their business.”

Wilder was impressed by City’s refusal to surrender and admitted he only relaxed when Potter found the net in the 91st minute.

He added: “York gave us a tough game. They have some good players and the front two are a handful but we defended properly and I thought we could cause them some problems.

“We knew they would not give in and they didn’t. We were excellent for the first 20 or 25 minutes and thoroughly deserved our lead.

“Jack Midson also had a chance to put the game to bed and we were in control. But then we changed the way we were playing.

“People started trying to do a bit too much on the ball and we got knocked back by the goal. Ryan Clarke has been our Player of the Year but the goal gave them a massive lift.

“They chucked people forward and I was delighted to get a third goal late on.”

City are unlikely to be bookmakers’ favourites next season but, having seen his club take four years to bounce back from Football League relegation, Wilder issued a warning to the division’s so-called bigger fish.

He said: “Everybody wants to get one over on you in this league. We have experienced that and Luton have also found that out, as will Grimsby and Darlington.

“You hear people talking about it but teams don’t just bounce straight back up. It’s a war of attrition in this league and not very easy at all.”

Centre-back praise

OXFORD United hot-shot James Constable paid tribute to City centre-backs David McGurk and Luke Graham.

Constable enjoyed the upper hand against the pair at Wembley, getting on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win having previously failed to net during his last five matches against in the Minstermen.

But he admitted both McGurk and Graham were worthy adversaries, saying: “They are honest footballers – not cheats – and I enjoy playing against people like that. It was a bruising game and I’m just glad we won it in the end.”