Oxford United 3, Morecambe 2 UNITED were given a mighty scare by little Morecambe at the Manor on Saturday before Mickey Lewis's charges recovered and eventually snatched victory in dramatic fashion three minutes from time.

And it was an inspired substituton by caretaker manager Lewis which turned the tide in what proved a highly entertaining FA Cup first-round tie played in a gale-force wind and at times torrential rain.

With 14 minutes to go, he replaced James Lambert with Ben Abbey, and the former Crawley Town goal machine had been on the pitch for just 11 minutes before starting a penetrating move by spreading the ball out to his right. He then made a run to the near post to turn in Mark Watson's low cross.

At least, that was how I saw it. But Paul Powell, who had saved United's blushes by heading home an equaliser after Morecambe had taken a shock lead, insisted he got the final touch.

In many ways, it mattered not, except to the two players concerned. What was significant, though, was the way United's players stuck to their guns, following Lewis's philosophy by trying to play football with neat passing and plenty of movement. But for two typical lapses at the back, they would have seen off what was an ordinary but hard-working Conference team with a couple of goals to spare.

Yet, having made those mistakes and allowed Morecambe in, I would suggest that, had Malcolm Shotton still been in charge, United would not have recovered and would be looking at one more embarrassing chapter in their history.

Lewis has made that much difference.

Although the players' self-belief still needs to be worked on, his encouragement both on the training ground and from the dug-out have transformed them into wanting the ball again.

United got a great start with a 13th-minute goal from Derek Lilley, who took advantage of a fortunate ricochet to prod home from ten yards after Matt Murphy headed the ball forward.

That was the ice-breaker, United's first goal for more than seven hours, and it gave the team a boost. They started to pass the ball well, spreading play and on one occasion put together no fewer than 15 passes to make the part-timers chase all over the pitch. Yet Morecambe had no intention of caving in. Mark Wright directed an early free-kick around the defensive wall but Andre Arendse caught it without trouble.

They forced the game's first corner after 26 minutes and from their second, two minutes later, taken by Darren Lyons, Andre Arendse was rooted to his line as the ball flashed across the six-yard box and Wright despatched a half-volley into the goal.

Shaken by the equaliser, United returned to the other end and from Arendse's long punt, Lambert, playing in an unaccustomed role up front, was very unlucky with a deft chip over keeper Andy Banks which hit a post.

Banks then made a spectacular one-handed save to deny Lilley when the Scotsman tried a 15-yard snap shot, and you started to wonder whether it was going to be Oxford's day.

As half-time approached, the alarm bells were ringing in the United defence as Lyons got free at the far post and should have done better than head wide from Neil Hardy's deep cross. Just two minutes into the second half and the disappointingly small crowd of 3,500 were looking at a major upset.

Lyons played a glorious pass between Les Robinson and Phil Whelan, and Morecambe's top scorer, Justin Jackson, finished superbly with a little dink over the keeper.

It was at this stage that Lewis was urging his players to try to do things quickly to catch Morecambe off guard and his suggestion proved right.

Rob Folland played a corner short, Joey Beauchamp whipped over a first-time cross, and Powell, arriving unmarked, planted a downward header into the net.

Now back in the game, United began to play with the urgency that was missing earlier and, knowing how difficult it would be in a replay at Christie Park just two days after playing at Reading, they gave it one last effort.

Abbey released Watson to his right and was there diving in at the near post to divert the low cross into goal. Or was it Powell?

Story date: Monday 01 November

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