Asa Hall hit a double, and Paul McLaren scored his first for the club, as Oxford United turned on the style on their first appearance at Morecambe’s new Globe Arena.

This was their biggest away win of the season, and their first league double of the campaign, following the 4-0 feast they had made of the Shrimps at the Kassam Stadium back in September.

A near-perfect afternoon was completed by goalkeeper Ryan Clarke saving a penalty, diving to his right to keep out Laurence Wilson’s spot kick after Damian Batt brought down Tony Capaldi.

It was two cracking free-kick goals which set the U’s on their win to a priceless three points..

Hall finished off what looked like a rehearsed training-ground move with the opener after half an hour, and fellow midfielder McLaren curled in a classy right-footed shot from 20 yards six minutes later.

McLaren became the team’s 11th different goalscorer this season.

Sammy McIlroy’s team were looking for their first win in eight games and they looked short of firepower.

But that was to take nothing away from the quality of Oxford’s performance in a contest they controlled.

There was a fairly comical incident in the fourth minute when Clarke slid out of his area to collect the ball but thought he had not handled outside his box.

He made an inquiring expression to referee Phil Gibbs if he could then pick up the ball, which appeared to be on the very edge of the area.

The ref held out his arms to wave play on, Clarke took that to mean it was OK and was then understandably unamused when the ref then blew for a free-kick.

And Morecambe almost scored from the free-kick, a fine left-footed drive from Wilson that slammed against the bar.

Wilson went close again on 18 minutes with a low shot that Clarke pushed around a post.

The long throws of Tony Capaldi were a useful attacking ploy for the Shrimps, and one almost paid dividends as tall midfielder Stuart Drummond flicked on a header, and Clarke had to stretch high above his head to save.

United, who had again had a good-sized following, were in a white and blue away strip.

They took the lead on the half hour from a well-worked free-kick.

Constable was checked on a run down the right by Kieran Charnock, and McLaren played the free-kick low to Steve MacLean, whose first-time shot from just inside the area was turned in by Hall in front of goal.

Six minutes later, and from another free-kick, it became 2-0.

Constable was fouled by a reckless tackle from Charnock, who although he won the ball also showed his studs. The free-kick was played short to McLaren, who curled a superb right-footed shot around the wall and into the top right corner.

The visitors kept the ball well in the second half, with Hall very precise in his passing, and as Morecambe came out to try to get back in the match they left gaps at the back.

Hall punished them again on 65 minutes.

Tom Craddock cut in and struck a low shot that keeper Barry Roche saved with his legs.

And when the ball was only half-cleared to Hall, he lashed a left-footed drive from 16 yards into the bottom right corner.

Worley produced an acrobatic clearance when the ball was delivered in dangerously between defence and keeper Clarke.

The big centre half nearly scored at the other end in the closing minutes, getting around the back of the far post, but his poked shot ran across the face of the goal.

And substitute Jack Midson almost turned in Simon Hackney's left-wing centre in stoppage time, Roche saving with his legs.

Nevertheless, 3-0 was as emphatic an away result as you can get, and it made the long journey back a very happy one for United and their fans.

This was Oxford’s fifth game against Morecambe, at four different grounds, and they have yet to lose.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Batt, Worley, Wright, Tonkin, Heslop, McLaren, Hall, MacLean (Potter 75), Constable (Midson 81), Craddock (Hackney 75). Subs not used: Clist, Eastwood, Purkiss, Payne.

Booked: Ref: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands).

Att: 2,171