Save Oxford United  ->  Matches  ->  30 October 1999
Morecambe (Home)
FA Cup 1st Round


 
RESULT 3 - 2 to the Oxford boys.
TEAM
Arendse 
Folland, Watson, Robinson, Whelan, Powell 
Fear, Murphy, Beauchamp 
Lilley, Lambert
SUBS Abbey (for Lambert, 76) 
McGowan (for Folland, 90) 
Cook, Lundin, Weatherstone (not used)
GOALS 1-0 LILLEY (12) - Drove in a shot after he and Murphy broke clear of the defence.. 
1-1 WRIGHT (29) - Arendse dithered at a cross, and Wright pounced from close range. 
1-2 JACKSON (47) - Lyons' pass split the defence, and Jackson chipped over Arendse. 
2-2 POWELL (58) - Header from Beauchamp's cross after a quickly taken Folland short-corner. 
3-2 ABBEY (87) - Slid in at the near post to meet Watson's cross. The first of many for Abbey?
PERFORMANCE A patchy performance by the Us, but a gripping Cup tie in which Morecambe played a full part.
MAN OF MATCH Rob FOLLAND - An excellent performance as an attacking wing-back. Great crossing.
BOOKINGS None
ATTENDANCE 3, 504 - Low.
REFEREE Andy Hall (Birmingham) - Fine, with no unnecessary bookings. It was an assistant who was mad.
REPORTS Oxford sites
From The Terrace   ("Oxford get the Abbey Habit")
Official Site   ("Abbey delight")
Rage Online   ("Abbey Life")
Morecambe sites
Morecambe Football Supporters Club
Official Site   ("Abbey's Late Goal Ends Shrimps Dreams")
Football sites
Football News
SoccerNet
Sportsline
TeamTalk   ("Oxford survive Cup scare")
Newspapers
Morecambe Visitor   ("Late goal shatters valiant Shrimps")
News of the World   ("Abbey gives Oxford the winning habit")
Oxford Mail   ("Substitution gets United off the hook")
The Sun   ("Electric Mark close to shock")



TEAMTALK

  Oxford survive Cup scare
  Micky Lewis began his managerial career with a win but Oxford were forced to come back from
  behind for their 3-2 win over non-league Morecambe.
  Morecambe arrived at the Manor Ground without an away win this season and indeed they hadn't
  won a first round FA Cup tie since 1968. However they must have fancied their chances against
  an Oxford side undergoing a transformation with a new manager, missing players through injury
  and suspension, and one going through a bit of a goal drought.
  Oxford took the lead after 12 minutes when Derek Lilley bundled the ball over the line. The goal
  had been a long time coming, it was Oxford's first in seven hours of football.
  In blustery conditions the game settled into quite an evenly matched affair and Morecambe
  certainly did not look out of their depth. So much so that they obtained an equaliser when
  ex-Everton player Mark Wright rose above two Oxford defenders to head home at the far post.
  The romance of the cup looked to be alive and well in the second minute of the second half when
  the visitors took the lead through record signing Justin Jackson. He looked impressive all
  afternoon, particularly in racing away from the Oxford defence and casually beating Andre
  Arendse.
  Oxford, playing under Lewis' preferred wing back system didnt panic and continued to pass the
  ball around nicely, which will have pleased Lewis. The equaliser duly came just before the hour
  mark albeit from the unlikely source of Paul Powell.
  It appeared nevertheless that the PA announcer knew something the rest of us didn't when before
  the game he gave details of the proposed replay schedules. But in the 87th minute, substitute Ben
  Abbey condemned Morecambe to a brave defeat and prolonged their wait fir first round success.


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