OXFORD UTD 2, SWINDON TN 0

2nd round

Tuesday, October 6

KEMAR Roofe hailed the best night of his career after bagging both goals as Oxford United stormed to a derby victory against Swindon Town.

The forward scored either side of half-time as the visitors were ripped apart following Jordan Turnbull’s red card.

It took several smart saves from Swindon goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux to keep the score down as United progressed in front of a sensational Kassam Stadium atmosphere.

Roofe has had some memorable displays in a U’s shirt, but declared this the highlight.

The U’s were recording a fifth successive victory over their arch rivals, but for Roofe it was a first: “Yeah it’s special. I’ve never done that before and it meant so much to the fans as well.

“I can’t describe the feeling of walking out to a packed house, it’s crazy.

“I’m not from round here so I’ve been get-ting told by fans what it means.

Callum O’Dowda clipped the crossbar, be-fore Jon Obika had the ball in the net for Swindon, only to be offside.

The visitors were on top, but Turnbull’s moment of madness changed the game as he kicked out at Jake Wright in frustration.

United immediately looked dangerous and on 41 minutes opened the scoring, with Roofe finding the net from ten yards.

There followed a rampant five minutes where Liam Sercombe, Roofe, George Bal-dock and Jordan Graham were all denied by Vigouroux.

Within eight minutes of the restart it was 2-0 as Taylor flicked on Graham’s cross and Roofe planted a header into the net.

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DAGENHAM 0, OXFORD UTD 2

Area quarter-final

Wednesday, October 11

PATRICK Hoban and Alex MacDonald scored as a youthful Oxford United eased past Dagenham.

United handed senior starts to Robbie Cundy and AJ George, and named a further three teenagers on the bench. And the visitors could not have started better, with Hoban turning in Danny Hylton’s cross after just 30 seconds.

Dagenham grew into the game and U’s goalkeeper Benji Buchel was forced to be at his best to deny Ashley Chambers and Ashley Hemmings.

The U’s started the second half as clinically as the first – just 54 seconds after the break it was 2-0.

Liam Sercombe’s effort was blocked, but MacDonald fired through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner.

Chey Dunkley cleared Matt McClure’s header off the line, however United comfortably saw the game out.

Boss Michael Appleton said: “The way the players started both halves was superb and we got our just rewards.”

OXFORD UTD 3, YEOVIL TN 2

Area semi-final

Tuesday, December 8

JORDAN Evans stole the show with a sensational goal as Oxford United booked their place in the southern section area fi-nal with victory over Yeo-vil Town.

Within four minutes, Ev-ans, on loan from Fulham, lit up the game on his first career start with a magnificent 35-yard shot which flew past a diving Chris Weale.

Despite being on top, United could not find a second goal and were made to pay when Yeovil equalised eight minutes before the break through Wes Fogden.

Oxford promptly went up a gear and Callum O'Dowda fired the hosts back into back into the lead three minutes before half-time.

After the break, Chris Maguire made it 3-1 with a low shot into the corner.

But with the game won, United stepped off the gas in the closing stages. Although Shaun Jeffers made it 3-2 late on, the U’s had done enough.

Evans was in dreamland about his wonder strike.

He said: “It was a great feeling – scoring on my full debut with a goal like that was very special."

MILLWALL 0, OXFORD UTD 2

Area final, 1st leg

Thursday, January 14

KEMAR Roofe again showed his eye for the big occasion as his double put Oxford United in pole position after the first leg against Millwall. The forward struck before half-time to leave the Lions chasing the game.

However, head coach Michael Appleton was left rueing what might have been after United spurned several opportunities to extend their advantage.

Millwall started well and Benji Buchel turned a Jed Wallace effort round a post.

United had barely threatened when they opened the scoring in freakish fashion on 14 minutes.

Roofe collected a throw by the corner flag and tried to cross, but instead the ball somehow found a way past David Forde and into the net.

United’s fans were almost cheering a second after John Lundstram’s chipped pass deceived the Millwall defence, but Roofe could not control with only Forde to beat.

The pair combined again two minutes before the break and this time United’s top-scorer made no mistake.

Lundstram curled a shot from 25 yards which hit the crossbar, where Roofe reacted quickest to head in the rebound.

The hosts then got on top and Buchel saved from Wallace, before United survived several dangerous moments to see the game out.

Alex MacDonald was keen to stay grounded despite the advantage.

He said: “We’re pleased, but it’s still only half a job done.”

Appleton commented: “I was disappointed. We got deeper in the second half.

“Some of our experi-enced players should know better because it was an opportunity to get three or four goals and really wrap the tie up."

OXFORD UTD 0, MILLWALL 1

Area final, 2nd leg

Tuesday, February 2

OXFORD United booked their place at Wembley with a 2-1 aggregate win.

The U’s held their nerve to fend off ten-man Millwall, who claimed victory on the night thanks to Lee Gregory’s goal, before Mark Beevers was sent off.

But Michael Appleton’s men saw out a nervous final few minutes to seal victory.

And U’s striker Danny Hylton could not hide his delight.

He said: “I feel quite overwhelmed, it is an amazing feeling.

“We are going to Wembley and we are over the moon.”

The visitors pressed early on with Steve Morison heading wide, but United survived and Kemar Roofe fired into the side-netting.

United ended the half with their first shot on target, Roofe testing Jordan Archer at his near post.

The home side looked comfortable in the opening stages after the break, but a lapse in concentration at the back allowed Gregory to play in Morison, but Buchel was quick off his line to deny the striker.

Oxford went straight down the other end and Hylton headed straight at Archer from six yards.

The miss proved costly, as Gregory turned on a sixpence and slotted past Buchel on 54 minutes.

United looked to respond straight away, but Liam Sercombe could not connect with the ball on the edge of the area.

On 64 minutes the match swung in United’s favour as Hylton was brought down by Mark Beevers, who was shown a second yellow.

Archer brilliantly denied O’Dowda from the resulting free-kick, before Alex MacDonald head-ed narrowly wide and Hylton was foiled by the keeper.

The visitors also continued to press, but United held strong to spark joyous celebrations.

Head coach Michael Appleton said: “These moments do not come round often and you have got to enjoy them.

“Even for someone like me, who is pretty chilled and relaxed, I am thrilled to bits.”