| RESULT | 1-0 to the Oxford boys (making it 3-0 on aggregate). |
| TEAM |
Folland, Robinson, Watson, Powell Weatherstone, Tait, Murphy, Beauchamp Lilley, Anthrobus |
| SUBS | Cook (for Weatherstone, 83)
Lewis (for Tait, 83) McGowan (for Powell, 83) Arendse, Banger (not used) |
| GOALS | 1-0 MURPHY (61) - Joey's corner found the head of the unmarked Matt Murphy. |
| PERFORMANCE | Flowing football, especially in the second half, made it our best of the season so far. |
| MAN OF MATCH | Matt MURPHY - Perhaps his best ever match for the Us; great passing and great vision. |
| BOOKINGS | None. |
| ATTENDANCE | 4,162 - Better than perhaps expected, with only about 200 Southend fans present. |
| REFEREE | M R Halsey (Welwyn) - Some mysterious decisions on corners, but ok really. |
| REPORTS | Oxford sites
From The Terrace ("Murphy's Law")Football sites TeamTalk ("United comfortably through")Newspapers Essex Chronicle ("Southend sorrow as ‘better side’ beat Blues") |
United comfortably through
A goal from Matt Murphy on the hour came after plenty of United pressure
and eased Oxford through to round two 3-0 on aggregate.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg chances were few and far between in
the first half as Beauchamp fired wide after 36 minutes and Neville Roach's
shot for the visitors was well beaten away by Paul Lundin.
However, if the first half was reasonably tight the second was far
from it as United ran riot. Southend's only real chance came as Houghton
fed Clarke, but he was unable to take advantage in the box.
United swept forward time and again though, and eventually the pressure
paid off as Matt Murphy scored his fifth of the season after Capelton made
a hash of a cross and left the goal unguarded for Murphy to head home.
Murphy could and should of had a hattrick in the second period as he
has several headers well saved by Capelton and right on the stroke of sull
time again the Southend keeper did well to block his 18 yard shot.
By then though the hard work had been done and 3-0 over the two legs
was perhaps a little lean for the domination Oxford had enjoyed throughout
the tie.
This page is maintained by James Beard.