Shrewsbury Tn 2, Oxford Utd 2 STEVE Anthrobus dragged Oxford United away from the FA Cup exit door at his 'local' on Saturday, as Mickey Lewis's team staged a stunning second-half fightback.

The ex-Crewe centre-forward, returning to the action after injury, came off the bench after an hour and offered the U's a lifeline from what looked a hopeless position at 2-0 down.

Just three minutes after coming on, he won a vital aerial challenge to set up Matt Murphy, who hauled the second division side back into the tie with his tenth goal of the season.

Then 'Bus', who had walked to the match from his home less than five minutes' stroll from Gay Meadow, played a part in a 79th minute leveller from Rob Folland which earned United a replay at the Manor in eight days' time.

It was a remarkable transformation to this second-round tie after Shrewsbury, second from bottom of the third division, threatened to cause the first major embarrassment of Lewis's managerial career.

And for the turn-around, Lewis himself must take credit. It was his inspired double substitution, bringing on Jamie Cook as well as Anthrobus, which changed the match. Having lost at Marlow only 11 months after winning at Leeds, Oxford know all about the ups and downs of FA Cup football, yet even they must have been surprised by the way the Shrews came at them, playing above themselves as their players tried to impress new manager Kevin Ratcliffe.

But they also had the help of what looked a dodgy early goal.

In the eighth minute, Tony Rigby played the ball over the visitors' defence and Steve Kerrigan seemed to be well offside as he controlled it, ran towards goal and beat Paul Lundin with a crisp, low shot.

The entire Oxford defence and Lundin raced over to protest to the assistant referee for not raising his flag, but he would not change his mind.

It was a dream start for Ratcliffe and just what United didn't want.

But it could have been a lot worse. Poor defending let in Kerrigan between Mark Watson and Les Robinson and only a brilliant save by Lundin, stretching out a foot, kept out Kerrigan's shot. Seconds later, dithering by Phil Whelan left Rigby completely clear, but once again the Swedish keeper spread himself for a magnificent save, this time with his arms.

United had another let-off when a header by Andrew Tretton at a corner was just deflected away from the goal.

Shrewsbury were particularly strong down their right, but Neil McGowan several times prevented them getting through with good defensive work.

And McGowan came to the rescue when Lundin made an error of judgement at a quick free-kick by Rigby. The lively Michael Brown headed past the keeper, but McGowan was perfectly placed to clear.

United might easily have been three goals down, yet in first-half injury time, they should have equalised. Jamie Lambert dribbled past three defenders on a run, but with only goalkeeper Paul Edwards to beat, he blazed over.

The U's, giving the ball away too often, lacking a cutting edge up front and uncomfortable at the back, were probably hoping beyond hope to get the lucky losers' ball in the third-round draw when, after 54 minutes, they went 2-0 down. McGowan gave the ball away near the left touchline and in an instant, David Hughes hit a 40-yard pass to Kerrigan who outpaced everyone, rounded Lundin and then finished well with a shot between covering defender Robinson and the near post.

Lewis knew he had to do something. He replaced Lambert and the disappointing Derek Lilley and the difference Anthrobus made was striking.

Immediately, he got in a shot - albeit a weak one - after a surging run from Murphy, and on 64 minutes he won the ball in the air from Robinson's pass. It dropped to Murphy, who lashed a left-footed shot into the net off the far post.

Rob Folland then enjoyed a purple patch attacking down the right, causing big problems. From one of his many crosses, Hughes was very lucky not to score an own goal as the ball sliced off his shin and over the bar. Joey Beauchamp was also coming into his own with some scintillating runs and, with 11 minutes to go, it was his fierce 20-yard shot, from a lay-off by Anthrobus, which brought United level.

Edwards couldn't hold the ball, Cook nicked it away from him and when Beauchamp followed up with a cross-shot from the left, Folland was in the six-yard box to turn it home.

Story date: Monday 22 November

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