Murphy lays down law for Oxford
Oxford completed a satisfactory week following their win over Southend in the Worthington Cup,
but their performance in beating basement club Oldham was far from convincing.

Nothing is going right for pointless and goal-less Oldham, and they didn't have much luck with the
penalty decision which sealed their fate. Defender Shaun Garnett challenged Steve Anthrobus
following a Joey Beauchamp free kick, and when Anthrobus was left sprawling the referee signalled
a spot kick. Matt Murphy blasted the ball to the left of Gary Kelly who dived the wrong way.

Oxford had five players out injured but coped with the side which won their Worthington Cup
clash, and they were rarely troubled by their opponents.

When United pressed hard in a bid to extend their lead, Kelly did well to tip a Weatherstone header
over the bar, and early in the second half he kept his side in the game with some breathtaking saves.
First he pushed a point-blank header from Derek Lilley round a post in the 48th minute and three
minutes later made an even better save to keep out a header by Weatherstone.

Oldham's only serious chance came in the 63rd minute when Andrew Holt broke through on the
left and swept the ball low across the face of goal, but substitute Paul Beavers failed to get a touch
with the goal at his mercy.

TEAMTALK

  Murphy spot on for victory
  Matt Murphy's sixth goal in six matches from the penalty spot on 16 minutes earned Oxford a 1-0
  win over bottom side Oldham at the Manor Ground.
  United had failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season, while the visitors had neither a point,
  nor a goal, to their name so something had to give in this game, and fortunately it went in Oxford's
  favour as they dominated proceedings throughout.
  The decisive goal came just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark when Latics' Shaun Garnett was
  adjudged to have fouled big Steve Anthrobus in the area and Matt Murphy made no hesitation from
  the penalty spot.
  Indeed Oxford were on top for the majority of the first half with the visitors having to thank their
  goalkeeper Gary Kelly for a string of fine saves to keep them in the game.
  Mark Watson and Paul Powell combined to set up Simon Weatherstone, however Kelly did well to
  tip away his goalbound header and on 11 minutes Joey Beauchamp kicked at thin air after
  another good cross from Watson - had he struck the ball it would have been a certain goal.
  After Murphy's penalty, Derek Lilley, Weatherstone and Anthrobus all had great opportunities to
  increase Oxford's lead but spurned their chances.
  Meanwhile Oldham went closest in the first half when Oxford keeper Paul Lundin saved a vicious
  effort from Phil Salt and Scott McNiven's drive went wide.
  In the second half Oxford turned up the pressure and should really have won by four or five, but
  the form of Kelly ensured it remained one.
  He saved two great efforts from Lilley, but kept his best save until the very end, denying Murphy's
  85th minute volley.
  Despite all the pressure Oldham might have snatched an equaliser when Lundin got down well to
  save John Sheridan's free-kick.
  The U's hung on to claim all three points which lifts Malcolm Shotton's men into 11th place in
  Division two.

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