Oxford Utd 2, Luton Tn 2

By JON MURRAY PAUL Powell notched his first-ever brace for Oxford United with two perfectly-executed penalties either side of half-time at the Manor Ground last night.

It brought the U's victory in a low-key Auto Windscreens Shield first-round tie but, of greater significance perhaps, took Mickey Lewis's team into Friday's more important FA Cup clash at Nottingham Forest on a ten-game unbeaten run.

With leading scorer Matt Murphy, who had missed his last two penalties, and his spot-kick successor Derek Lilley among those rested for last night's game, there was considerable interest in who would take the kick when Steve Anthrobus was bundled to the ground by Efetobore Sodje five minutes before the break.

Powell picked up the ball, placed it on the spot and then rifled a low kick into the bottom right corner.

And Powell had to almost wrestle the ball away from Joey Beauchamp when United were awarded a second penalty three minutes into the second half. Anthrobus headed back a left-wing cross from Jamie Cook and Simon Weatherstone's 15-yard volley hit debutant James Ayres on the hand.

Referee Mark Warren pointed to the spot, booked teenager Ayres, and Powell promptly despatched his kick into much the same place.

But Oxford owed much to keeper Paul Lundin for avenging the Hatters' two league wins over them this season.

The Swedish keeper made four great saves, two in each half.

Luton's side showed three changes from last Saturday and Oxford coach Mickey Lewis rested four of his players - Mark Watson and Rob Folland as well as Murphy and Lilley.

Peter Fear came in as a right wingback, Simon Weatherstone stepped into midfield and Cook partnered Anthrobus up front. It was the first time since the sixties that brothers had played together in United's first team, the last before the Weatherstones being a certain Ron and Graham Atkinson.

Luton held a very tight line at the back to try to catch United offside and cut down on their space so it became a case for United of players making runs at the right time into the vast areas between the Luton defenders and keeper Nathan Abbey.

The Hatters started the brighter and Lundin had to beat away a shot from Gary Doherty after he cut in from the left.

Simon Weatherstone might have done better had he tried to take the ball around the keeper rather than attempt to poke it past him from Neil McGowan's ball over the top.

Luton put together a neat move when Stuart Douglas laid the ball back and Doherty connected sweetly with a side-footed volley which went just over.

At the other end Ross Weatherstone came to the home side's recue when a mistimed cross from Adam Locke came off Phil Whelan. It heading for an own goal but Weatherstone cleared off the line. The two penalties put United in control and Lundin then kept the visitors at bay by beating away a Paul Read shot, pushing aside a free-kick from Matthew Spring and saving a low drive from Spring with his knee.

Disappointingly for the crowd, there was no instance of the special ten-yard rule being used. None of the players, it seemed, could be bothered to argue.

United gave a debut near the end to youngster Dean Whitehead, who replaced Beauchamp. Afterwards, Lewis said: "There were a lot of good performances from players who haven't been in the team.

"It was nice to see Powelly so confident that he grabbed the ball for the penalties. I must admit, I didn't know who was going to take them.

"We rode our luck a couple of times and went a bit sloppy for ten minutes after both the goals, but every time we did that Paul Lundin helped us out with some great goalkeeping."

Story date: Wednesday 08 December

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