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Oxford United 2 |
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Wycombe Wanderers 2 |
Saturday 13th August 2005
Football League 'League Two' |
 Wanderers remained unbeaten in 'League Two' after three games of the 2005/6 season following a 2-2 draw with Oxford United on a rainy afternoon at The Kassam Stadium. In a game where fortunes swung between the two sides, it looked like it was Wycombe who were to have snatched victory when goals on 70 and 85 minutes from Nathan Tyson had replied to Chris Hackett's 17th minute opener for United. However, with two minutes remaining Danny Morgan headed home from close range after Clint Easton had conceded a free kick on the right edge of the penalty area. Both Tyson's efforts came following excellent work by Kevin Betsy down the right flank and also after John Gorman had introduced substitutes Stefan Oakes and Ian Stonebridge. It was a performance that would have left the Wycombe boss pleased with the fighting attitude of his team during the second half but also one where there were more question marks raised over some of the defending.
Oakes was the one change to the starting line-up that had won with an impressive display at Rochdale the previous Tuesday - the former Notts County and Leicester City midfielder dropping to the bench in favour of veteran Rob Lee. It was a line-up that saw Wycombe struggle to create any serious chances on goal during the opening 45 minutes despite having the better of the early possession. It was on 18 minutes when United broke from midfield to create the opening goal of the game - Craig Davies crossing low from the left to find an unmarked Chris Hackett at the far post to score with embarassing ease. Hackett was sent off in last season's encounter at The Kassam Stadium and it looked for considerable time that this game was to follow a similar dreary path for Wanderers.
But backed by close to 1,500 travelling Wanderers fans, proceedings liven up immediatedly after the break when Tyson was left with a one on one with United 'keeper Billy Turley. However, the latter was quick off his line to block and also recovered to smother Betsy's follow up. Tyson had claims for a penalty a few minutes later when he was hauled down on his way into the box but play was pulled back for a foul outside the area and ex-United striker Tommy Mooney could only curl the ball into the home wall.
 It was the introduction of Oakes and Stonebridge that appeared to swing the game more in favour of Wycombe. Although not before a last ditch tackle by Roger Johnson prevented a clear shooting attempt from Davies on the right channel. It was stirling work by Mooney, Senda and Betsy that brought Wycombe's equaliser on 70 minutes. Mooney and Senda combined well on the right of midfield before setting up Betsy who crossed low into the six yard box where Johnson's effort was saved by the 'keeper but Tyson was waiting to collect the loose ball and fire home via a deflection. What looked to have been the winner came with five minutes left on the clock - this time Betsy picking up possession on the right and then crossing from the bye-line where Tyson managed to chest the ball down before blasting home into the roof of the net. The celebrations in front of the vocal 1,500 travelling fans should have been for three points but another lapse in defence cost Wycombe dear. With two minutes remaining Easton conceded a needless foul on the right edge of the penalty area and when Hackett swung the ball in, substitute Danny Morgan couldn't believe his luck when five Wycombe defenders allowed him to stoop home and head in the equaliser. On the balance of play, a draw was probably a fair result but Wycombe may look back on this as two points dropped later in the season.
Final Score - Oxford United 2 Wycombe 2
Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Easton, Williamson, Johnson, Betsy, Lee (sub 62 Oakes), Bloomfield (sub 62 Stonebridge), Burnell, Tyson, Mooney - subs not used: Dixon, Williams, Nethercott
Bookings: Easton (foul 88)
Scorers: Tyson (70,85) |
Oxford: Turley, Mansell, Willmott, Ashton, Robinson, Hackett, Quinn, Hargreaves, Gray, Bradbury (sub 81 Morgan), Davies (sub 73 Basham) - subs not used: Tardif, Stirling, Hughes,
Bookings: Ashton (foul 54)
Scorers: Hackett (17), Morgan (88) |
| Referee: M Russell |
Attendance: 6,364 (away section 1,494) |
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