| RESULT | 3 - 2 to the Oxford boys. |
| TEAM |
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")Morecambe sites Morecambe Football Supporters ClubFootball sites Football NewsNewspapers Morecambe Visitor ("Late goal shatters valiant Shrimps") |
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.
This page is maintained by James Beard.