Luton Tn 2, Oxford Utd 3

MATT Murphy continued his sizzling early-season form with two great goals to put Oxford United in charge of their Worthington Cup tie with Luton Town.

Second division Town hit back from two goals down at the interval with two second-half penalties to level it up.

But substitute Simon Weatherstone restored United's advantage, giving them a lead to take into next Tuesday's first round second leg at the Manor Ground, by heading home Joey Beauchamp's corner two minutes from time.

And, with away goals counting double in the event of the sides finishing level on aggregate, Oxford are in a strong position.

Without the injured Kevin Francis and Steve Davis, and deciding against risking Andy Thomson, who had a bruised ankle, United put out a makeshift side and boss Malcolm Shotton chose three central defenders to try to keep the game tight. He brought in Brian Wilsterman, ahead of Phil Whelan, gave a full debut to Andrew Rose and used Beauchamp and Nicky Banger as wide players with a brief of getting up to support lone striker Murphy.

For the first 40 minutes little happened.

Phil Whitehead saved Martin Gray's blushes with an alert save at the feet of Matthew Spring when the United midfielder uncharacteristically gave the ball away on the edge of his area.

Luton suffered a blow when long-serving left back Mitchell Thomas was stretchered off with a head injury. His replacement Paul McLaren had been on the field less than 60 seconds when he scythed down Dean Windass and was promptly booked.

The Hatters' former Monaco player Herve Bacque skilfully dribbled round Wilsterman and Whitehead after 38 minutes, but the only teammate he could find was Spring 18 yards out and he recoiled in anguish after blazing high over the bar.

Moments later Murphy showed exactly how to finish as he met a free-kick from wide on the left by Windass with a spectacular diving header into the net from eight yards.

If that was good, Murphy's second two minutes later was even better. He played a one-two with Beauchamp and met Beauchamp's headed return with a first-time dipping volley from 22 yards which sailed over goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and into the top right corner.

At the start of the second half, Whitehead saved well from Phil Gray's low left-footed drive and then made a point-blank stop from Dwight Marshall who smashed his follow-up effort against the outside of the stanchion.

Home supporters yelled for a penalty when Martin Gray appeared to push Sean Evers but referee Barry Knight would have none of it.

But in the 60th minute Phil Gilchrist was penalised for a push in the back on Phil Gray just inside the box and Graham Alexander converted the spot kick.

Four minutes later Wilsterman challenged hard with Bacque at a right-wing cross and the Frenchman went sprawling along the ground. Once again the ref pointed to the spot and once again Alexander blasted home.

Having been pegged back to 2-2 it looked anyone's match but it was United who upped the tempo in the closing stages.

Gilchrist directed a free header wide from Beauchamp's free-kick and Murphy, with a half-chance to complete his hat-trick from Weatherstone's pass, found Gavin McGowan too quick, the defender making a vital blocking tackle.

Beauchamp fired a dipping 25-yarder just over and with time running out Weatherstone gleefully thumped home his header.

They'd had a scare but were worthy Worthington winners.

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