United fall victim to Clarets late-show
  United were beaten 3-2 by Burnley at Turf Moor on Tuesday after twice taking the lead through
  Steve Anthrobus and Phil Whelan.
  Micky Lewis will be no doubt proud of the way his side approached the game and no doubt
  disappointed about the final result.
  Burnley boss Stan Ternent was probably hoping for a more clear-cut victory after the dreadful
  mauling at the hands of Bury, but at the end of 90 minutes he may have been grateful for any
  points from a game that Oxford United had at stages dominated.
  Indeed it was United who scored first, shocking the Clarets with a goal in the first five minutes.
  Neil McGowan's cross should have been dealt with by Mitchell Thomas but he failed to clear and
  the ball fell invitingley to Steve Anthrobus who rammed his shot past the helpless Paul Crichton.
  United's goal in the first half came very much against the run of play though as the home side
  battered at the visitors door for long periods.
  When the Burnley's equaliser came it was of little surprise and it seemed that the floodgates may
  then open.
  Phil Whelan was adjudged to have brought John Mullin down in the box and Andy Payton stepped
  up to thrash the penalty into the back of the Oxford net.
  The first half may have ended with the Clarets laying siege to the United net but a different pattern
  emerged in the second half when the visitors managed to step up a gear and threaten the home
  net.
  Phil Whelan eventually got the goal to take United back into the lead after heading home a near
  post cross from Joey Beauchamp's corner.
  The visitors seemed to be happy to try and score again after this and pushed for a third goal to
  take the game beyond Stan Ternent's men but they squandered a whole host of chances with
  Beauchamp probably the biggest culprit after he was put in the clear.
  With fifteen minutes left to play there seemed little chance of the Clarets getting back into the
  game, but the home team again began to exert pressure and despite the desperate nature of the
  attacks it seemed to work.
  Substitute Paul Weller crossed and found Andy Payton in the box and the goal-getter grabbed his
  second of the game thrashing the ball into the back of the net from close-range.
  With just seconds left on the clock the team repeated the dose this time it was a corner that was
  headed into the box by Thomas that fell at the feet of Payton who blasted in again from
  close-range to seal a remarkable victory.

This page is maintained by James Beard.