Reading 1, Oxford Utd 2

By Jon Murray A FANTASTIC late winner from Matt Murphy brought Oxford United a stunning derby victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium yesterday morning.

The team, transformed by caretaker manager Mickey Lewis, produced their best performance of the season at the place the fans most wanted it to come.

They showed the greater passion, played the better football and, after seeing an early lead cancelled out by a sloppy 77th-minute equaliser, demonstrated how they weren't prepared to settle for a point.

With six minutes of normal time remaining, Joey Beauchamp embarked on a brilliant run down the left and crossed the ball low behind the Reading defence for Murphy to smash home an unstoppable 16-yard shot.

The winning strike, Murphy's ninth of the season, was right in front of United's 1,500-strong band of followers who were delirious with joy.

And when the final whistle went, not long afterwards, the same fans, singing "Mad Dog's Yellow Army", gave the celebrating team rapturous applause. Their first visit to the magnificent Madejski Stadium had been one of celebrating glory and saluting heroes.

One of those heroes was undoubtedly Rob Folland, who got the U's off to a flying start with the opening goal after seven minutes - his first for the club.

And it was a beautifully-taken effort by the young Welshman. Beauchamp slipped a pass to his right and Folland beat Andy Gurney with a deft turn to his right before drilling a low shot past ex-Manor keeper Phil Whitehead.

Lewis had recalled Paul Lundin in goal, as expected, but he sprung a surprise by giving a debut to Ross Weatherstone on the right side of central defence, and used skipper Les Robinson as the holding man in midfield.

The caretaker manager also dropped Paul Powell to the bench and gave Neil McGowan another chance at left-wing back, and the Scottish defender nearly made it 2-0 when he ran on to a flicked backward header by Murphy. Unfortunately, though, he got under the half-volley and sent it high over the bar. Boosted by the early breakthrough, Oxford looked much the better side in the first half.

As Reading continued to play in fits and starts, with only Martin Williams posing a threat, the visitors maintained their control, with Weatherstone doing a fine job.

For a derby game, it was surprisingly low-key, the early kick-off time not helping.

But all that was to change with a dreadful foul by Barry Hunter on James Lambert, the Reading defender taking out his former teammate with a crude bodycheck.

The ref allowed play to go on because Derek Lilley was in possession, but when he lost the ball, Lilley then made a crude challenge on Linvoy Primus. Yet when the ball went dead, the ref declined to book either player.

The Oxford fans were incensed that no action was taken, and an over-the-top tackle by Phil Whelan, which earned him a booking, similarly upset the home supporters. Suddenly, it was much more like a derby. Lundin was proving a dominant figure, catching every Reading cross that came anywhere near Oxford's penalty area.

Reading produced a rare sweeping move which ended with Williams shooting narrowly wide but it was United who finished the first half the stronger.

United had good claims for a penalty when Mark Watson looked to be held down as he jumped for a corner. And from another Beauchamp corner, nodded back by Whelan, Murphy volleyed over when it seemed easier to score.

Reading came out for the second half much more fired up and they threw expensive signing Nicky Forster into the attack as a signal of intent.

For most of the second half it was a back-to-the-wall job for United. They had to defend in numbers as Reading at last showed much more purpose.

A brilliant save by Lundin from Keith Scott in the 54th minute kept them in front. When a corner was headed out, Keith Scott returned an overhead kick and Lundin, arching back, stretched out his left hand to tip it over the bar. McGowan then made a vital block tackle on Williams as Reading threatened again.

The ref booked Hunter for a dangerous high tackle on Beauchamp who, moments later, was unlucky to see a goalbound drive strike Lilley full in the face.

With 13 minutes to go, United conceded a sloppy equalising goal. Whelan could only toe-poke the ball sidewards, and substitute Jim McIntyre got in between Robinson and Weatherstone. Seeing Lundin several yards off his line, he deflected it past the keeper.

Yet, having led for so long, this United team didn't want to settle for a draw and in the 84th minute, from Beauchamp' fabulous run and cross, Murphy smashed in a truly memorable winner.

Story date: Monday 08 November

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