Tranmere 2, Oxford Utd 2

By JON MURRAY

NEVER-SAY-DIE Oxford United showed remarkable spirit for the second successive away match by fighting back from 2-0 down at half-time yesterday.

They got themselves into two spots of bother on the Wirral as Tranmere converted two penalties in the first 24 minutes.

But they pluckily worked themselves back into the match and both Simon Weatherstone, coming on as a substitute, and Phil Gilchrist struck their first league goals of the season to make it all square.

The importance of Gilchrist's leveller two minutes from time - which matched Nicky Banger's last-minute winner at Sheffield United for its timing - only became evident when the players heard the other results.

Bristol City, Crewe and Port Vale had all won but thanks to this draw, United have reached the psychologically important 40-point mark.

Tranmere's first penalty, in the fourth minute, was controversial and, at best, harsh.

George Santos got his head to a long throw-in by Dave Challinor and Hull ref Paul Robinson immediately blew for a spot kick, indicating that there had been a push or some shirt-pulling. Video replays, however, failed to clear up the mystery of why it was given. Paul Lundin showed good reactions to save the header from the long throw, but he had to return the ball to the official who planted it on the spot 12 yards out.

United fans behind the goal were praying for Paul Lundin to make a name for himself, but Kenny Irons sent him the wrong way with the spot kick.

Before the penalty, Oxford had looked bright and they continued after it to spend long periods in the Rovers half.

Andy Thomson flicked out a boot at a Mark Watson header from Martin Gray's cross but keeper John Achterberg saved with his legs.

Lundin's prodigiously long kicks were again impressive and, from one, Kevin Francis headed on and Matt Murphy blasted in a 25-yard shot which deflected wide.

Free-scoring Tranmere had beaten relegation-threatened Bury and Crewe 4-0 and 3-0 in the past month so United knew they would have to defend well and sensibly.

They did the first part but not the second. For in the 24th minute they again paid the penalty for getting caught out at the back when Murphy hauled down Scott Taylor.

Would Irons pick the same place from the second penalty? Lundin guessed he wouldn't, but he did, and sent the keeper the wrong way again. Malcolm Shotton gave a clear indication of his disgust at Murphy's rashness by immediately substituting the midfielder and sending on Joey Beauchamp, back after a three-game ban. Not surprisingly, Murphy didn't like the decision.

Momentarily, United went to pieces and after Gray had given the ball away in a dangerous position, Alan Mahon shot wide.

Lundin saved low to his left from Taylor, and Gilchrist crucially blocked what looked a goalbound shot from Mahon.

The U's desperately needed to get a goal back before half-time and they almost did it when Banger swivelled and shot against the post following a corner which Tait knocked forward.

But the visitors pressed hard throughout the second half and with 16 minutes remaining, their persistence paid off.

Beauchamp, whose crossing had been poor, played a one-two with Tait to set up Banger for a shot past Achterberg from the right side of the box. And there, in the right place at the right time, was Weatherstone to poke the ball over the line. Beauchamp nearly equalised two minutes later when he flung himself at the ball coming in late at the far post after Watson's long throw had been missed by the keeper. Beauchamp managed to connect, but hit a difficult chance over from two yards.

There were just two minutes left when the U's drew level, and it came from one of Watson's throws. Kevin Francis got in a shot which was blocked and the ball ran loose to Gilchrist.

No little tap of the ball from Gilly. He drove it, sledge-hammer like, through a crowd of players into the net.

Story date: Tuesday 06 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.