Save Oxford United  ->  Matches  ->  11 March 2000
Colchester United (Away)


 
RESULT 2 - 1 to the Oxford boys
TEAM
Lundin 
Edwards,Watson, Whelan
Weatherstone S, Robinson, Tait, Murphy, Powell 
Jemson, Lilley
SUBS Russell (for Lilley, 72)
Cook (for Weatherstone, 80)
Anthrobus (for Jemson, 85)
Abbey, Folland (not used)
GOALS 1-0 WEATHERSTONE, S (22) - Jemson released Weatherstone, who ran in and smashed home from the edge of the box.
1-1 SKELTON (63) - Knocked it home from a Joey Keith corner.
2-1 WHELAN (90) - Stabbed it into the net (whilst on the ground) in injury time after a pinball session in the Colchester area.
PERFORMANCE Oxford dominated the first half, but Colchester moved up a gear in the second, and must have been shocked by the late goal.
MAN OF MATCH Derek LILLEY - Showing himself more and more to be a quality player (though not a goalscorer?)
BOOKINGS None
ATTENDANCE 4,058 - It's places like Layer Road that make the Manor seem like a mecca.
REFEREE A R Leake (Darwen)
REPORTS Oxford sites
From The Terrace   ("Whelan wins it")
Rage Online   ("Tin-Tin's adventures in Essex")
Colchester sites
COLU Online
ColUWeb
Football sites
Football News
SoccerNet
Sportsline
TeamTalk   ("Priceless win lifts Oxford")
Newspapers
Colchester Evening Gazette   ("U's defending is no laughing matter...")
Express
News of the World   ("Wonderful Whelan")
Oxford Mail   ("Whelan strikes at the death")



TEAMTALK

  Priceless win lifts Oxford
  Goals from Ross Wetherstone and Phil Whelan's last minute strike secured a 2-1 win to boost
  United's relegation fight.
  The game looked destined to end in stalemate as both teams seemed willing to settle for a point.
  Bearing in mind Colchester's relentless pressure throughout the second half, once they'd secured
  their equaliser, Oxford would have gladly settled for the draw, but in the end Oxford punished the
  hosts' sloppy defending to register a priceless win.
  United got off to the perfect start when Ross Wetherstone rounded off his brave run on goal by
  unleashing an unstoppable shot.
  The opening goal did nothing but stir the home team into action and the remainder of the first half
  and the opening exchanges of the second belonged to Colchester.
  Their domination of possession came close to being converted into goals on several occasions,
  most notably when Jamie Moralee had his effort cleared off the goal-line. Jason Dozzell and
  Tresor Lua Lua were also heavily instrumental but when Aaron Skelton's equaliser eventually
  came on 63 minutes, there was certainly an air of inevitablity about it.
  The pressure continued but credit should be given to Oxford for their ability to resist the
  Colchester pressure.
  With the clock showing 91 minutes, Colchester failed to clear a rare Oxford foray into their
  opponents' penalty area. The resulting melee saw the ball squirm it's way through to Phil Whelan,
  who despite being sat on the ground, somehow managed to stick out a leg and make a significant
  connection.
  The last kick of the game leaves Oxford in 21st place for now but come May, Denis Smith may
  well look back on this game as a crucial turning point in Oxford's season.


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