City's heroes clinch dream tie at Wycombe

By NIALL JEGER HEROIC City booked their place in the first round proper of the FA Cup on Saturday - and a dream tie away to their old adversaries Wycombe Wanderers - in a match straight from the top draw.

Underdogs City stormed into a two-goal lead in front of a 449 crowd, but then had to defend with their backs to the wall as Salisbury clawed one back and threatened to break the hearts of the home faithful.

This was undoubtedly City's finest performance of the season and they took the lead on the half-hour when Andy Smith headed home.

He was unmarked at the far post and rose to get the slightest of touches to a looping Shaun Wimble cross.

The second half was just two minutes old when, with the finest move off the match, City doubled their lead. In a cracking counter attack, Jason Davy tore down the middle, supported by Stewart McCleary. Instead of a short pass to his strike partner, Davy pushed the ball wide to Terry Morrisey on the wing. His cross fell neatly for McCleary, who hadn't stopped his run, to volley in City's second, aided by the post.

Before Court Place Farm had caught its breath, Salisbury were back in it, when Martin Shepherd drove a diving header past a helpless Alan Foster to set up a tense finale.

The match was played at a break-neck pace from the start and Salisbury's big, strong physical side had City under the cosh early on.

Foster collected at the feet of Shepherd, and in the tenth minute, the City keeper showed his nerves by recovering well after spilling the ball at the feet of ex-Swindon player Ian Chalk.

City steadied the ship and Terry Sweeney set up Wimble who ran on to fire inches wide in the 24th minute. City stayed on the attack and the pressure paid off when Smith headed them ahead.

But Salisbury raised their game after conceding the goal, and City had to defend deeply, with Sweeney and skipper Matt Hayward making some vital interceptions.

The home side held on until the break and made the best of starts to the second half when McCleary rifled in No 2.

But once Salisbury has pulled one back, it was nerve-wracking stuff.

Foster made his best save of the match in the 60th minute when he showed lightning reflexes to palm away a driven Chalk shot, while at the other end, Justin Lee should have wrapped it up when Morrisey's cross found him unmarked in front of goal, but he volleyed wide.

Morrisey received the only booking of the match in the 70th minute for a clumsy challenge.

Foster made another terrific save to deny giant defender Roger Emms and, as Salisbury pushed up with four men in the attack, City had their chances to wrap it up with Wimble and substitute Dwaine Strong going agonisingly close.

Oxford City: Foster, Morrisey (Smart), Dark, Peirson, Hayward, Sweeney, Lee, A Smith, McCleary (Emsden 85), Davy (Strong 77), Wimble.

Referee: C Chapman (Stroud).

Attendance: 449

Story date: Monday 18 October

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