| RESULT | 2 - 0 to the Oxford boys. Wayhey! Almost there... |
| TEAM |
Robinson, Davis, Whelan, McGowan Murphy, Weatherstone S, Newton, Powell Anthrobus, Lilley |
| SUBS | Jemson (for Weatherstone, 73)
Beauchamp (for Powell, 90) Arendse, Cook, Folland (not used) |
| GOALS | 1 - 0 MURPHY (26) - Powell squared
from the right, Murphy cut inside the defender and scored from an improbable
angle.
2 - 0 POWELL (70) - Scunny were throwing men forward, and Paul Powell's speed caught them on the break. |
| PERFORMANCE | Oxford got the necessary goals, Knight made the necessary saves. It was tense, but it was worth it. |
| MAN OF MATCH | Paul POWELL - Named player of the season before the game, and showed why during the game. He'll be missed. |
| BOOKINGS | Matt MURPHY (84) - Violent conduct. Or rather fisticuffs with Stanton, who was also booked. |
| ATTENDANC | 6,752 - The home ends seemed quite well filled. Scunthorpe brought quite a few too. An excellent atmosphere. |
| REFEREE | A Bates (Stoke-on-Trent) - Overly fussy, but not at all bad really. |
| REPORTS | Oxford sites
From The Terrace ("Light at the end of the tunnel")Scunthorpe sites ScunthorpeFC.com ("Iron Relegated")Football sites Football NewsNewspapers Express |
U's close to safety
Goals from Matt Murphy and Paul Powell gave Oxford a 2-0 win over now
relegated Scunthorpe and their fate will now be decided on the final weekend.
Both sides made a nervous start as they realised the significance of
this game.
Scunthorpe had the first chance after just four minutes but Richard
Knight in the Oxford goal did well to block his shot.
After that early scare Oxford took control as Scunthorpe 'keeper Tommy
Evans kept his side in the game as the U's piled on the pressure to make
the breakthrough.
After six minutes Weatherstone latched on to a Paul Powell cross but
Evans tipped his header onto a post before Powell followed up to blast
his effort over the bar.
Oxford continued to press forward but it took them twenty six minutes
to break the deadlock.
The impressive Powell found Matt Murphy on the right and he cut inside
before firing a shot past the helpless Evans.
Oxford could, and perhaps should have doubled their lead before the
break as Derek Lilley found himself in space but dragged his shot wide.
On the stroke of half time Weatherstone put the goalscorer Murphy clean
through but Evans was quickly off his line to avert the danger.
Scunthorpe knew they had to get something out of the game to have any
chance of staying in the Second Division and at the start of the second
half they threw everything at the U's but were unable to break down a resolute
Oxford defence.
Brian Qualey was causing a few problems for the home side but the visitors'
final ball let them down at times and Richard Knight was in outstanding
form between the sticks.
As Scunthorpe pushed forward for the equaliser Oxford caught them on
the counter attack and wrapped up the game twenty minutes from the end
as Derek Lilley found Paul Powell in space and he ran at the heart of the
Scunthorpe defence before firing his shot through the legs of Tommy Evans.
Scunthorpe tried desperately to salvage something from the game but
their efforts were in vain as Oxford took the points.
Scunthorpe are relegated to the Third Division while Oxford face an
anxious few days and it will be between the U's and Cardiff to decide the
final relegation spot.
This page is maintained by James Beard.