As the Oxford Mail removes its reports, I took the liberty of making a copy.
Hope nobody minds!
Gritty United make their point
Cardiff City 1,Oxford Utd 1By Jon Murray MATT Murphy scored a contender for goal of the season at Ninian Park on Saturday.
But Oxford United conceded an equaliser minutes later and had to hang on grimly for a vital second division point.
They were put under enormous pressure in the second half, yet probably should have snatched all three points when the ball fell to Paul Powell two minutes from time after Jon Hallworth saved from substitute Derek Lilley.
Yet Powell's right-foot shot was skied high and wide.
In the end, United were probably grateful for a point because, in football terms, they never got going.
Too often for their liking, the ball was in the air and their passing was as poor as it has been since Mickey Lewis took over.
But they defended resolutely, with centre backs Phil Whelan and Steve Davis, supported by Les Robinson, doing good jobs. United were not very good in the first half before Murphy's wonder goal and yet they created the best early chance in the 13th minute.
After a six-man move, Steve Anthrobus headed Powell's centre across goal. Murphy, running from deep, has scored from that position so many times, but he missed his kick.
Ex-United favourite Mike Ford was able to take his place in the Cardiff defence, despite his back problems, but the already-depleted Bluebirds looked to be in more difficulties at the back as Jeff Eckardt spent several minutes off the pitch receiving treatment for a foot injury.
United had their own problems with Mark Watson unable to take his place in the side because of his hamstring injury.
Lewis retained Paul Tait, as expected, and recalled Rob Folland to right back.
Andy Legg's prodigious long throw-ins kept United's defence under pressure, and the left wing back also got in a powerful 30-yard free-kick which Paul Lundin saved. The pacy runs of right wing back Josh Low were a constant threat, and for most of the first half Cardiff looked the better side, Lundin beating out a fierce shot from Richard Carpenter with his forearms, and Bowen slicing high and wide from Kevin Nugent's lay-off.
There was also a lucky let-off for the visitors when Mark Bonner's shot deflected off the foot of Davis as he shot, looped over Lundin, and then came back off the bar.
The U's had been under the cosh, and when Anthrobus stabbed a shot wide in a crowded box following a bout of head tennis, it came as something of a relief.
But a minute before the break the game was changed by a glorious goal. Joey Beauchamp crossed from the right and Murphy, 18 yards out, struck an unstoppable volley on the turn past a helpless Jon Hallworth.
It should have been the perfect time for Oxford to score, but they undid the good work by letting Cardiff in for an equaliser two minutes into the second half. Once again, Legg's long throw-in caused the damage. Giant German Jorn Schwinkendorf made a nuisance of himself, and the ball dropped at the feet of Nugent who cheekily back-heeled into the goal.
It might have been worse. A minute later, Nugent chipped the ball into the area and Schwinkendorf knocked it past Lundin, but a foot wide.
By now, a roar went up from the crowd every time Legg took a throw-in and another one caused absolute mayhem, Lundin spilling the ball after it had been flicked on, and then diving among a sea of legs to retrieve the ball.
Jamie Cook was pulled back just outside the area by Eckhardt after a neat one-two, the foul earning Eckhardt a booking, but Beauchamp failed to get any power behind the free-kick.
Soon afterwards, Cook was replaced by Lilley and United reverted to a more rigid 4-4-2 shape and despite the odd heart-stopping moment, they held on for the draw.
Story date: Monday 17 January
Copyright 1999 Newsquest Media Group