Oxford United's players were accused of "sledging" at non-League Eastbourne on Saturday to try to win through in the FA Cup.

Ollie Rowland, the Eastbourne Borough winger who slotted home a twice-taken 90th-minute penalty which brought the Conference South part-timers a 1-1 draw with their League Two opponents, said several Oxford players taunted him to try to put him off his spot-kick.

"I was very pleased to put the second one away because the Oxford players were taunting me," he said.

"It was unbelievable. I was in the crowd, celebrating the first one going in. Then I turned round and realised I had to go through it all again.

"The Oxford players were doing everything they could to put me off.

"One said 'you haven't got it in your locker . . .' another said 'it's going straight in the car park (behind the goal)' and Billy Turley shouted 'try hitting it the same way'.

"But I was more nervous for the first penalty than the second. I just wanted to hit it hard and hope for the best."

United skipper Chris Hargreaves said: "There was a bit of taunting going on but it happens all the time. It's just a bit of banter, isn't it?

"He took it well, it didn't put him off.

"Billy would probably have been better off doing the Grobelaar wobbly legs!"

The ref ordered the re-take after teammate Danny Simmonds encroached into the area.

However, Rowland kept his cool under intense pressure to convert for the second time and earn Borough a first-round replay at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday, November 16.

The winners of the replay will be away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday December 3, just three days before United meet them in the league.

The penalty was awarded for a clumsy trip by Chris Willmott on substitute Yemi Odubade.

United manager Brian Talbot said he thought it was the right decision, and he paid tribute to Rowland for showing a lot of bottle, especially with the Match of the Day cameras at the ground.

"All credit to the boy who had to take the penalty," Talbot said.

"Not only did he have to take it twice, the ref delayed it as well. The lad obviously knew the cameras were here, and he kept his cool, even changing position to put it in the other corner with the second one.

"I think it was a penalty, but these things happen. Chris went to clear it and the boy toed it away from him, and he was committed.

"Do you give credit to the boy for toeing it away, or say Chris shouldn't have done it? He was trying to get the ball, it didn't happen, I think it was a definite penalty."