Oxford Utd 5, Stoke 1

UNITED produced a stunning three-goal salvo in seven second-half minutes to see off Stoke with their biggest win of the season.

Saturday's game at the Manor Ground proved a dream return for Matt Murphy.

Unexpectedly recalled to the attack, he scored twice and had a hand in one of Kevin Francis's two goals before leaving to a standing ovation.

But the biggest cheer of yet another memorable home victory under new manager Malcolm Shotton was for a magnificent 30-yard free-kick from Joey Beauchamp late in the game.

Beauchamp, who had ripped Stoke apart during a dazzling second half, struck the kick over the wall with pace - David Beckham style - and saw it beat Neville Southall all ends up, going into the net off the inside of a post.

It was a top-quality goal, Beau-champ's 16th of the season

And yet bottom-of-the-table Stoke came out fighting at the start.

In a surprisingly open first half - considering how much was at stake for the visitors - they had a good amount of possession, although their only real chance came from a Peter Thorne volley which failed to trouble Phil Whitehead. Murphy missed a good opportunity on 27 minutes when Francis slipped him a pass, shooting over the bar as Southall came quickly off his line.

Francis had to go off for stitches after getting a kick in the head, and Beauchamp was booked for dissent after disputing one of a host of mystifying decisions from not only the ref, but also his linesmen.

It was one of those matches where it seemed one team needed some inspiration from somewhere - and Murphy provided it.

Collecting a pass from Martin Gray in first-half stoppage time, he fended off a weak challenge from Ray Wallace and finished superbly with a low shot past Southall from 15 yards.

A succession of inane decisions from the officials angered the crowd at the start of the second half before Murphy made it 2-0 with a crisp, first-time shot after being well set up by Jamie Cook.

Attacking towards the London Road in the second half, United were on fire.

Francis made it three from barely three yards out by deflecting in a shot from David Smith following a corner.

Francis then took his personal tally to five goals in seven games at Oxford with a fantastic fourth goal after 65 minutes. The architect was Beauchamp who, along with several of his confidence-bursting teammates, was starting to play with a swagger.

He flashed past two defenders on the left wing like a greyhound overtaking a sloth, and then fired over a brilliant cross.

Murphy got a touch with his head but it still went through to the far post where Francis thumped it into the goal with an unstoppable left-foot volley on the turn.

Momentarily, United's concentration slipped as Stoke responded with substitute Dean Crowe pulling a goal back, side-footing home Graham Kavanagh's left-wing cross.

But it was no more than a consolation.

And United sealed their best win since beating hangover-affected Barnsley by the same score on the final day of last season with Beauchamp's sensational free-kick three minutes from the end.

Shotton and his assistant Mark Harrison celebrated goal No 5 with Klinsmann dives in front of the home dug-out.

In the opposite dug-out sat a forlorn Chris Kamara, still remembered by both the fans and Shotton for his part in some tough old local derbies with Swindon.

Next up is another derby tomorrow night - strugglers Reading.

I doubt if they fancy it.

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