To mark Oxford United’s Milk Cup success 30 seasons ago, the Oxford Mail are delving into their archives to show how the run was reported round-by-round on the corresponding date this season.

Oxford United 3, Norwich City 1

OXFORD United moved into the last eight of the Milk Cup last night helped by a well-kept secret, writes John Ley.

They kept quiet the fact that just a few hours earlier, goalkeeper Steve Hardwick had been rushed to hospital for X-rays on a suspected broken wristbone.

With second choice goalkeeper Alan Judge on loan to Lincoln, United were suddenly thrown into havoc.

“Steve hurt the wrist in training on Tuesday but it wasn’t until yesterday that the hand blew up,” said United manager Maurice Evans.

The injury however, was not as bad as feared.

“I asked him how he felt, and he said he was prepared to play, but it was a gamble,” added Evans.

Thankfully, Hardwick was not over bothered on a night when Andy Thomas confirmed just how much he loves to play in cup games.

Drafted into the attack, Thomas made two and scored another to take his tally for the season to six, including five in cup competitions.

United’s enthusiasm and ability to hold the ball left Milk Cup holders Norwich perplexed in a game refereed fluently by Alan Robinson.

And considering the fact that regulars Ray Houghton, Jeremy Charles and Billy Hamilton were injured, and Gary Briggs suspended, this was another fine result.

Even an early Norwich goal from Kevin Drinkell couldn’t dampen the spirits of a United side inspired from midfield by Les Phillips and Dave Langan on the right flank.

John Aldridge capped a quite perfect move to equalise in the first half with Thomas putting United ahead and Phillips scoring his first ever goal for United to take the game beyond reach of the Cup holders.

Norwich drew first blood when a 20-yard strike from Ian Culverhouse was only parried by Hardwick. Drinkell was on hand to tap home after just 14 minutes.

United replied in style. Langan intercepted a ball on the halfway line, gave it to Thomas, who crossed first time from the right for Aldridge to head home powerfully. It was a textbook goal, and the striker’s 10th of the season.

England goalkeeper Chris Woods saved at the feet of Aldridge; Phillips headed just over and Peter Rhoades-Brown saw a shot saved well as United pushed forward in relentless waves before the break.

Scores were level at the interval, but it wasn’t long before United asserted their authority.

They went ahead in the 51st minute with a goal which said much for Thomas’s eagerness. A long ball from Trevor Hebberd was cut back by Aldridge to Thomas, who rode a tackle from Steve Bruce before chipping over the oncoming Woods.

Oxford Mail:

  • The back page of the Oxford Mail on November 20, 1985

Thomas missed a simpler chance six minutes on when, with just Woods to beat he clipped the ball wide.

Phillips made it safe for United after 63 minutes. Thomas again did all the work, beating two defenders on the right before cutting back for Phillips to scoop home a first-time drive over Woods.

Although their passage into today’s quarter-final draw was by now secure, the disappointingly low Manor crowd stood up and applauded a quite breath-taking save by Hardwick in the final exchanges of the game when he leapt to palm over from Rosario.

Oxford United: Hardwick, Langan (Jones 83 min), Slatter, Trewick, Hebberd, Shotton, Brock, Aldridge, Thomas, Phillips, Rhoades-Brown.

Norwich City: Woods, Culverhouse, Van Wyk, Bruce, Phelan, Watson, Barham, Drinkell, Rosario, Mendham, Williams (Brooke 65 min).

Referee: A Robinson (Waterlooville).

Attendance: 7,851.