GOALS from Kane Hemmings, Curtis Nelson and Toni Martinez gave Oxford United a famous victory against Sky Bet Championship high-fliers Newcastle United in a terrific Emirates FA Cup fourth round tie.

Hemmings opened the scoring a minute after half-time, extending his run of scoring in every round.

The key moment came in the 65th minute, when Simon Eastwood saved a penalty from Aleksander Mitrovic, who had been thwarted by the United goalkeeper twice in the first half.

Star names came off the visitors’ bench, but a packed Kassam Stadium saw Michael Appleton’s side create the better chances on the break.

Nelson’s header at a corner gave them a two-goal cushion, before Martinez rounded off a fantastic afternoon by heading in for a dream debut.

It banked the £90,000 prize money and sealed a place in Monday’s fifth round draw, in what is the first time United have reached the last-16 since 1994.

Oxford Mail:

  • Debutant Toni Martinez (No 7) watches as his header flies in to make it 3-0 late on

The teamsheet showed one change to the U’s XI which started the 4-0 win at Rochdale a week earlier.

Ryan Taylor, on the verge of a move away from the club, dropped out of the squad altogether and was replaced by Hemmings, while new signing Martinez was on the bench.

A huge roar went up from the packed stands when the sides walked out of the tunnel and the fans paid their respects to Graham Atkinson with a minute’s applause in tribute to United’s record goalscorer, who died earlier this month.

The hosts lived up to pre-match promises of starting the game on the front foot and putting Newcastle, who had made nine changes, under pressure.

Referee David Coote had his work cut out early on to calm frayed tempers as Nelson took offence over an aerial challenge from Mitrovic.

When the game settled down, it quickly became clear Marvin Johnson was the hosts’ best attacking outlet.

The winger fizzed in one low cross which was just too close to Toon goalkeeper Matz Sels, while another marauding run was only halted by a last-ditch tackle on the edge of the box.

It took a mistake to lay on the game’s first clear chance, on 28 minutes.

Chris Maguire was robbed by Isaac Hayden and he slipped in Mitrovic, who, to the delight of the fans in the East Stand, slipped as he was about to pull the trigger.

A minute later came United’s best opening of the half.

Maguire and Rob Hall had earlier been guilty of a dreadful short corner routine which ended up with a Newcastle throw. This time Maguire’s chipped pass found Hall in the box and his shot from an acute angle was blocked by Sels at his near post.

The visitors showed their quality in flashes, but United were grateful to Eastwood for keeping the scores level at the break.

Twice he denied Mitrovic with smart blocks. The striker had plenty of time to think about his first opening when he was played through, only for the goalkeeper to stand tall and make the parry.

The second save, in the final minute of the half, was even better as he thwarted the Serbian with his legs after good work by Jesus Gamez and Ayoze Perez.

United were well in the game, though, and they came flying out of the traps after the break.

Within 15 seconds Maguire had won a corner and before a minute had elapsed United were in front.

Maguire’s set piece came back to him and from his cross to the back post, Chey Dunkley headed down for Hemmings to bundle in from close range.

Newcastle looked rattled and Maguire’s mere presence saw Massadio Haidara and Sels quickly concede a panicky corner.

But the visitors, helped by some carelessness on the ball from United, regained their composure to fight back into the game.

Hayden had a header saved by Eastwood from a corner, before the Magpies were awarded a golden chance to equalise in the 65th minute.

A strong run from Mitrovic took him into the area, where he tumbled under pressure from Phil Edwards.

The striker dusted himself down, but his torrid afternoon continued as Eastwood dived to his right and a strong wrist kept the ball out. It prompted a roar from the home fans which was even louder than after Hemmings’s goal.

A relieved United nearly cashed in with a second goal.

Johnson embarked on another jinking run and when his shot was blocked it looped up for Hall, who volleyed just wide.

Appleton handed a debut to Martinez with 20 minutes remaining. The young striker was clearly not short on confidence, quickly trying his luck from 40 yards with an effort which sailed high into the chilly January air.

Benitez threw on Yoan Gouffran and Matt Ritchie from the bench and the game opened up in the final 15 minutes.

United looked a real threat on the break and a glorious chance appeared to have been spurned when Martinez’s cross was blocked with Hemmings unmarked in the middle.

But the reprieve was only brief for the visitors, as Nelson buried a header at the back post from Hall’s corner.

It got even better for the home side three minutes from time.

Again Hall was the provider with a cross which was classily headed in by Martinez.

It rounded off a memorable afternoon, as United claimed an eighth higher-division scalp during Appleton’s two and a half seasons in charge.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Skarz, Maguire, Lundstram, Ledson, Johnson, Hall, Hemmings.

Subs used: Martinez (Maguire 70), Sercombe (Hemmings 83).

Unused subs: Agboola, Raglan, Ruffels, Rothwell, MacDonald.

Booked: Hemmings, Edwards.

Newcastle Utd: Sels, Gamez, Hanley, Good, Haidara (Ritchie 77), El-Mahnni (Gouffran 68), Hayden, Barlaser, Lazaar, Perez, Mitrovic.

Unused subs: Elliot, Yedlin, Dummett, Lascelles, Shelvey.

Booked: None.

Referee: David Coote (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 11,810 (1,787 visitors).