United pass the challenge!

By Jon Murray MATT Murphy sent Oxford's biggest League gate home happy with a late headed winner at the Manor yesterday.

United's leading goalscorer at last came up with the right answer in the 83rd minute of a Christmas university challenge that had left everyone looking stumped.

Cambridge had been reduced to ten men for nearly an hour after their young centre back Martin McNeil was too quick on the buzzer, diving in with reckless challenges on Joey Beauchamp in the 14th and 35th minutes.

But even with an extra man, Oxford struggled to create clear-cut chances and it was only when they introduced Steve Anthrobus and then Kevin Francis late in the second half, that there was anyone to capitalise on a succession of crosses from 'spare man' Paul Powell.

And the two substitute strikers played their part in the winning goal.

Cambridge's defenders were so busy trying to work out who should mark Francis and Anthrobus at Beauchamp's corner, that they forgot about Murphy, who peeled away and then powerfully headed the ball high into the goal. For Murphy, his 13th goal of the season made up for a first-half miss when, better positioned, he directed a free header from another Beauchamp corner straight at the keeper.

Mickey Lewis had been dealt a double blow before kick-off with Paul Lundin and Mark Watson ruled out through gastric flu.

It meant returns for Andre Arendse and Powell, who was getting a chance as a left-sided midfielder rather than at full back or wing-back, and Lewis decided the time was right to change to a 4-4-2 formation.

Former Oxford man Paul Wanless was another absentee, but Cambridge seemed to miss him less. They were much sharper to the ball in the early stages, attacking up the slope, as they took the game to Oxford.

The home side's limitations must have seemed obvious to those spectators seeing them for the first time since they last visited their Oxfordshire relatives a year ago. They were lightweight in attack and there was far too big a gap between the midfield and forwards. Oxford had a big let-off in only the fifth minute when an unmarked Scott Eustace headed straight into the grateful arms of Arendse from just six yards out.

That followed a shot from Alex Russell which deflected off an Oxford defender just over the bar.

Whether it was over-indulgence the previous day, or some other reason, it seemed to take the home side an age to get going, but eventually they did threaten when Steve Davis sent a glancing header narrowly over.

Midway through the first half, the Yellows picked up considerably, and so did the crowd. Beauchamp got free on the right and whipped over a cross for Powell, who was crowded out as he shot.

The sending-off of 19-year-old McNeil was somewhat harsh, but from that moment, Cambridge's attacking threat was diminished.

Oxford pressed and pressed in the second half, but too often their passing wasn't quite sharp enough. Derek Lilley shot over when well-placed and Beauchamp screwed a shot wide after a rare flowing move involving Lilley and Anthrobus.

On 77 minutes, Francis arrived for his first Manor Ground appearance since the Stockport game last May, and six minutes later, Murphy had broken the deadlock.

Even then, though, Cambridge might have snatched an equaliser. Top scorer Martin Butler had the goal gaping in front of him but shot straight at an Oxford defender on the ground.

Arendse was able to pick up the ball and then, just like Bournemouth, another mad melee developed.

Well, it wouldn't be Christmas, would it, without handbags at five paces?

Story date: Monday 27 December

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