Oxford United 3,

Morecambe 2. 

MORECAMBE'S hopes of taking Division 2 strugglers Oxford Utd to an FA Cup replay were dealt the cruellest of blows when the home side won the game with a goal just three minutes from time. 

 Young Ben Abbey was the dream destroyer with his first goal for the club - a goal that will remain in the memories of the Shrimps’ fans for a long time to come. 

It was a goal as undeserved as it was cruel. Morecambe had played their hearts out and after going 2-1 up just two minutes into the second half they even looked the better team, but in the end they just failed to earn the money spinning replay their performance warranted. 

The game was ultimately decided by the side who made fewest mistakes. In awful conditions, the driving rain and swirling wind made defending a nightmare and there were plenty of chances at both ends. 

Lifted 

The first opportunity fell to Oxford ,when in the 13th minute Mark Wright's headed clearance was caught in the wind, Matt Murphy reacted quickly to head the ball into the path of Derek Lilley, and he scored Oxford's first goal in more than seven hours of football. 

That clearly lifted the home side, playing their first game under caretaker manager Mickey Lewis and they began to stroke the ball around with confidence. 

But the cheers around the Manor Ground soon turned to despair when Morecambe forced their way level on 28 minutes after another defensive error. 

Unlucky 

Darren Lyons' right wing corner sailed across the six yard box and with Oxford's South African international goalkeeper Andre Ardense rooted to his line, Mark Wright steamed in at the back post to score his first goal for the club. 

The game then went from end to end; Andy Banks made a fine flying save from James Lamber,t while Matt Murphy was unlucky to see his lob on the run beat Banks but bounce back off the woodwork. 

At the other end the Shrimps had two glorious chances to go ahead at the end of the first half. Darren Lyons sent a free header wide when he should have at least hit the target and then Niell Hardy just didn't have the pace to run past Mark Watson, after a superb through ball from Justin Jackson. 

If Jackson had been on the end of that ball things could have been different, but the Shrimps' record signing did not need long to make his presence felt in the second half. 

Surge 

The visitors started the half with a surge as Lyons broke through the middle and fed Jackson superbly and the striker finished coolly, as he chipped the advancing Ardense. 

The celebrations were a joy to behold and it could have been a killer blow for an Oxford side who had won just one match in their last 10. 

Oxford came back strongly though and began to enjoy the greater share of the possession. Lilley thought he had made it 2-2 after Andy Banks was caught in no man's land after a rush of blood, but he was ruled offside. 

The disappointment did not last for long however, as Oxford equalised on 58 minutes. Their speed of thought was too much for the Shrimps as they took a corner quickly and from Joey Beauchamp's cross Paul Powell beat Andy Fensome to the ball to head past Banks from six yards out. 

It was end to end stuff after that and the tie looked to be heading for a replay, when Abbey slid in at the near post to force home a cross from centre half Watson and the Shrimps' dream was in tatters. 

Even then there was time for Morecambe to create another golden chance when Jackson found himself in space just inside the box. Unfortunately instead of taking the ball forward on his right foot he looked to get it on to his left and Watson was able to force the ball away. 

At the final whistle the home crowd gave the Shrimps a standing ovation - a sporting end to a great game and one that will have a number of Oxford fans looking for Morecambe's results for years to come. 

STAR MAN: Justin Jackson. Made some superb runs both on and off the ball all afternoon and took his goal superbly. 

Oxford United: Arendse 6, Folland 8 (McGowan 90), Robinson 6, Watson 7, Whelan 6, Powell 7, Beauchamp 7, Fear 7, Lambert 7 (Abbey 76), Lilley 7, Murphy 8.Subs not used: Cook, Lundin (g/k), Weatherstone S. 

Morecambe: Banks 6, Fensome 7, Farrell 7, McKearney 7, Wright 7, Knowles 6 (Smith 84), Drummond 6, Burns 6, Lyons 7 (Keeling 88), Jackson 8, Hardy 6 (Eastwood 67). Subs not used: Takano, McIlhargey.