Morecambe 1 (Ellison 78) Oxford United 1 (Worley 88)

2:58pm Saturday 15th December 2012 in Match Reports 2012-13 Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

HARRY Worley came off the bench to grab a valuable late equaliser as Oxford United salvaged a point from a tight game.

Morecambe looked like they had pinched all three points when Kevin Ellison opened the scoring at a corner 12 minutes from time.

Worley was thrown on as a makeshift centre forward and the defender took his chance superbly by steering in Alfie Potter's cross.

United had dominated the opening exchanges, but were unable to convert their chances into a goal.

Morecambe fought back into the game, which for a long time hung in the balance.

The late goals gave the contest much-needed drama and Worley's cool finish saw United extend their unbeaten run to six games.

Tom Craddock returned to the starting line-up in the only change from the 1-1 draw against Aldershot Town a week earlier.

Liam Davis made way, so Sean Rigg switched back to the left flank as the top scorer joined James Constable up front.

Craddock had looked rusty in his previous appearance, but an extra week's training looked to have done him the world of good.

A chance fell his way after only 12 seconds when a clearance was charged down. It allowed the striker to get a shot away, which flew just wide.

Morecambe's defence looked vulnerable early on, as United worked hard to press them high up the pitch.

Another panicked ricochet fell to Constable, but he slipped while shooting and the chance disappeared.

It set the tone for a dominant opening 25 minutes from the U's, which caused plenty of discontent among the Shrimps fans.

Their best chance came on eight minutes, when Potter slipped a clever ball into Craddock.

The striker should have scored 12 yards out, but he appeared to hesitate - possibly waiting for an offside flag - and his shot was saved by the legs of goalkeeper Barry Roche.

The stopper was busy and could only parry a stinging effort from Damian Batt after a quarter of an hour. From the resulting corner, Rigg headed straight into his arms.

Eventually Morecambe gained a foothold in the game, as United's pressing game began to fade.

Their first chance of the game was also the best of the half, on 25 minutes.

Rigg was caught dawdling in the left back area and when the cross came in Richard Brodie teed up Jack Redshaw. The diminutive striker looked odds-on to score six yards out, but Ryan Clarke produced a fantastic reflex save to turn the header over the bar.

Morecambe shaded the final 20 minutes of the half, although United's defence looked up for the battle and stood firm.

They were only opened up once before the break.

Redshaw's flick sent in Ellison, but Batt read the danger and timed his slide tackle superbly to snuff out the chance.

The second half began with a scrappy spell, with a well-timed block from Jake Wright on Brodie the only opening of note in the first ten minutes.

The game began to open up after the hour mark.

Potter fired one chance into the side netting and blasted another shot over after good work from Constable.

But it took some desperate defending at the other end to keep the game scoreless on 65 minutes.

Gary McDonald burst through the back four, but his shot was kept out by Clarke. The goal was gaping as the rebound fell to Redshaw, who held his head in his hands after Batt thwarted him with an outstanding block.

McDonald came close again shortly afterwards, but his shot hit Ellison and flew just over.

With 12 minutes remaining the deadlock was broken.

Andrew Wright swung in a corner which Ellison bundled over the line from close range.

United's response was to bring on Worley, normally a centre back, as a target man.

It looked a desperate gamble, but two minutes from time it came off.

Potter used Batt as a decoy to run into the box and his cross-shot was expertly steered in by Worley.

It was the final clear chance of the game, as the spoils were shared.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Clarke, Batt, Raynes, Wright, Capaldi (Worley 83), Potter, Chapman, Leven, Rigg (Davis 67), Constable, Craddock (Forster-Caskey 90).

Unused subs: Brown, O'Brien, Marsh, Cox.

Morecambe (4-3-3):Roche, Wright, McCready, Fenton (Haining ht), Mustoe (Parrish 88), Drummond, McDonald, Fleming, Brodie, Redshaw (Alessandra 68), Ellison.

Unused subs: Arestidou, Reid, Parkinson, McGee.

Referee: Scott Duncan.

Comments(27)

oldun says...
3:00pm Sat 15 Dec 12

‘Crowd’ of 1385 - how do Morecambe do so well? .
We must try to aim to finish above the lottery of the play offs .
80 points was enough to get 3rd place in 2010.

Just 55 points from 24 would give us 80 .

16 wins 2 defeats (6 draws)

or 17 wins 4 defeats (3 draws) is all we might need .

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oldun says...
3:01pm Sat 15 Dec 12

‘Crowd’ of 1385 - how do Morecambe do so well? .
We must try to aim to finish above the lottery of the play offs .
80 points was enough to get 3rd place in 2010.

Just 55 points from 24 would give us 80 .

16 wins 2 defeats (6 draws)

or 17 wins 4 defeats (3 draws) is all we might need .

Report this post »

oldun says...
3:04pm Sat 15 Dec 12

54 points durr! 16 wins 6 draws 2 defeats or 17 wins 3 draws 4 defeats - easy

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BigAlBiker says...
4:38pm Sat 15 Dec 12

According to the BBC report we had 17 shots with 12 on target, what does that say, and a defender with little game play this season digs us out.

Still reckon CW should get his P 45

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oldun says...
5:35pm Sat 15 Dec 12

BigAlBiker wrote:
According to the BBC report we had 17 shots with 12 on target, what does that say, and a defender with little game play this season digs us out.

Still reckon CW should get his P 45
Don't go upsetting his two fans BYT and err... We can still end up third. Playoffs - lottery - mind you they worked for us second time round to get us out of the 'p**y league' , as CW put it

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Brenda Jackson says...
5:52pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Not good enough, the manager's volume of excuses ran out, he had pretty much a full squad to select from- yet only managed a scrappy draw when we should be looking to win matches like this to make up for earlier failures.. Two home matches looming, i'm looking at the in trepidation- because same manager= same old same old..

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The Manager says...
6:15pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Dream on Oldun no harm in that but I cannot for the life of me see what you see in this squad that is going to take us to the play offs. For all of us I hope your dreams come true. There to many players hear to pick up easy money and not enough passion and commitment. To make the play offs and go up we would have to in my opinion at least five signings which mean that a couple of players would have to leave and based on what Mr. Wilder has done up to now and I feel its highly unlikely.

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oldun says...
6:33pm Sat 15 Dec 12

The Manager wrote:
Dream on Oldun no harm in that but I cannot for the life of me see what you see in this squad that is going to take us to the play offs. For all of us I hope your dreams come true. There to many players hear to pick up easy money and not enough passion and commitment. To make the play offs and go up we would have to in my opinion at least five signings which mean that a couple of players would have to leave and based on what Mr. Wilder has done up to now and I feel its highly unlikely.
Third place - play offs too risky - we won't be so lucky as last time

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RADIOFAN says...
6:39pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Dear Santa. For christmas i would like a brand new manager. Eight brand new players and the three ghosts from A christmas carol to visit chris Wilder supporters. The ghost of Oxford United past to show them just how good they could be. The ghost of Oxford United present to show just how bad they are at the moment and the ghost of Oxford United future to show them where they are going with yheir holy great one....NOWHERE. From now on as far as im concerned the supporters of Chris Wilder are the mortal enemies of Oxford United football club.

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Beau champ mummy says...
6:55pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Just back from game we were second best to most balls barn door was his usual self this really is not good enough look at morcambes budget and look at ours it's a disgrace

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hawkeye1 says...
7:04pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Dear Santa,
I have only one wish, and that you arrange for Kassam to be gone from any connection to Oxford United, I long for the day we don't have to see his name on the walls of the club, and also get them off all the direction signs to the ground, we need some RICH people toi nvest in our club, but they are not going to do it while he = Scrooge( Kassam )has anything to do with the ground, because as any investor will say, that whatever money they would put into the club, Kassam would just find a way to take their money and put it in his pocket, like putting up the rent again, the man is just a greedy blood sucking leach...Merry Christmas

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oldun says...
7:43pm Sat 15 Dec 12

And to think that we turned down a massive offer (raised eventually to £175 k ?) from Rovers for 'barn door'

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oldun says...
7:44pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Beau champ mummy wrote:
Just back from game we were second best to most balls barn door was his usual self this really is not good enough look at morcambes budget and look at ours it's a disgrace
Yes I realise you ain't one of 'us'

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Chish and Fips says...
8:02pm Sat 15 Dec 12

oldun wrote:
And to think that we turned down a massive offer (raised eventually to £175 k ?) from Rovers for 'barn door'
Yeah ... I think we also dodged a bullet there... right type of player, too much baggage though.

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oldun says...
8:38pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Chish and Fips wrote:
oldun wrote:
And to think that we turned down a massive offer (raised eventually to £175 k ?) from Rovers for 'barn door'
Yeah ... I think we also dodged a bullet there... right type of player, too much baggage though.
He rejected you . United rejected Rovers less high offers

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Chish and Fips says...
8:50pm Sat 15 Dec 12

oldun wrote:
Chish and Fips wrote:
oldun wrote:
And to think that we turned down a massive offer (raised eventually to £175 k ?) from Rovers for 'barn door'
Yeah ... I think we also dodged a bullet there... right type of player, too much baggage though.
He rejected you . United rejected Rovers less high offers
Yep and we are thankful for that - if he's struggling in your league my guess is he might only make the bench in L1..

Have a good week you lot.

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RocketMan says...
1:40am Sun 16 Dec 12

Hmmn.... I heard on the BBC we have lost almost as many away matches as Barnet? What does this say for our promotion hopes this season? Would like to think I could be proved wrong, but we were in a better position last season and this squad spurned the opportunity. Lenagan is also to blame not just Wilder. Okay we also had to pay Kassam extra stadium rent. But If we cannot score goals, we cannot go up and for sure would not stay up even if we did. At present the excuses are starting to wear thin. Last two performances nearer Conference standard than league standard. Now the squad is getting back to full fitness, it's time to see full performances. Playing pretty football and not scoring goals, just does not cut it. We are at the wrong end of the table, believing we are a better side than our position suggests counts for nothing unless we prove it. As Dick Turpin may have said:- It's time to deliver!!!

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Isawyoucoming says...
9:45am Sun 16 Dec 12

oldun wrote:
‘Crowd’ of 1385 - how do Morecambe do so well? .
We must try to aim to finish above the lottery of the play offs .
80 points was enough to get 3rd place in 2010.

Just 55 points from 24 would give us 80 .

16 wins 2 defeats (6 draws)

or 17 wins 4 defeats (3 draws) is all we might need .
more chance of an englishman winning wimbledon

Report this post »

adlibber says...
12:07pm Sun 16 Dec 12

Wilder is a lost cause - He waits until December to publicly announce that the team needs to win - Not only does he state the effing obvious but he is once again delusional about the prospects of a team that he has infected with dullness of his press releases. We are rubbish and I really do think our season now has been reduced to mid table safety and slightly longer cup runs. Lenagan I think is looking for an exit and Wilder will be gone when his contract runs out.I suspect Lenagan doesn't want to lose all his money but will have to take a hit if he wants out now.

We are in trouble folks wrong players in wrong positions, wrong manager in place and a chairman who offers no hope of a future. I think we'll just possibly avoid relegation, if Wilder walks now. If Wilder really is the honest man he claims to be he wouldn't be here now.

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RADIOFAN says...
12:54pm Sun 16 Dec 12

If we dominated the game like the excuse master reckoned we did yesterday then why is the man of the match vote containing three defenders and someone who was only on the pitch for ten minutes ?

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oldun says...
2:38pm Sun 16 Dec 12

Isawyoucoming wrote:
oldun wrote:
‘Crowd’ of 1385 - how do Morecambe do so well? .
We must try to aim to finish above the lottery of the play offs .
80 points was enough to get 3rd place in 2010.

Just 55 points from 24 would give us 80 .

16 wins 2 defeats (6 draws)

or 17 wins 4 defeats (3 draws) is all we might need .
more chance of an englishman winning wimbledon
Or of Murray being voted sportspersonality of the year. Hail Wiggins (then Farah and Ennis) - with Murray , 4 great Brits

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AylesburyOx says...
8:25am Mon 17 Dec 12

Anyone still talking up promotion this season needs a serious reality check - we need to look the other way and stop the rot!
Get rid of Wilder and bring in a manager who can be stable and learn the club for the rest of this season and kick on for promotion next.

...won't happen though as for 2 very simple reasons

1. It would cost too much money to pay Wilder off

2. More worryingly, I have it on good authority that IL rates Wilders management skills

Happy days indeed

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Brenda Jackson says...
9:12am Mon 17 Dec 12

AylesburyOx wrote:
Anyone still talking up promotion this season needs a serious reality check - we need to look the other way and stop the rot! Get rid of Wilder and bring in a manager who can be stable and learn the club for the rest of this season and kick on for promotion next. ...won't happen though as for 2 very simple reasons 1. It would cost too much money to pay Wilder off 2. More worryingly, I have it on good authority that IL rates Wilders management skills Happy days indeed
Whose 'Good authority'?

I don't think the cost of paying the manager off is the 'problem' - IL may not know too much about Football but he's pretty astute and will have balanced the cost of a pay off against the failure to reach the play offs and the inevitable drop in attendances.
As you say, the Chairman must rate his manager's 'skills' - gawd help us!!

I agree, OUFC are in big trouble, and the Chairman's stance is a recipe for disaster. :(

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A Scroat says...
9:24am Mon 17 Dec 12

Until we get another striker and sell the mid-conference one that Wilder relies on (Bristol Rovers must be laughing now) we will continue not to score having had numerous chances in matches. Taxi for JC and Wilder.

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AylesburyOx says...
9:55am Mon 17 Dec 12

Brenda Jackson wrote:
AylesburyOx wrote: Anyone still talking up promotion this season needs a serious reality check - we need to look the other way and stop the rot! Get rid of Wilder and bring in a manager who can be stable and learn the club for the rest of this season and kick on for promotion next. ...won't happen though as for 2 very simple reasons 1. It would cost too much money to pay Wilder off 2. More worryingly, I have it on good authority that IL rates Wilders management skills Happy days indeed
Whose 'Good authority'? I don't think the cost of paying the manager off is the 'problem' - IL may not know too much about Football but he's pretty astute and will have balanced the cost of a pay off against the failure to reach the play offs and the inevitable drop in attendances. As you say, the Chairman must rate his manager's 'skills' - gawd help us!! I agree, OUFC are in big trouble, and the Chairman's stance is a recipe for disaster. :(
A close member of ILs inner circle...can't say too much as the person tells me the information in confidence.

If Wilder does stay then he needs the support of a proper training ground coaching staff. I was watching a program on the Man City youth team and the fitness and training schedule they go through - it's shameful what a doss our first team has in comparison.
Now I know people will say Man City have billions in the bank but good solid training and a few professional coaches/nutritionist
s/sports scientists would cost very little in the great scheme of things if it meant we were the fittest and most disciplined squad in the league who actually understood how the put the ball in the back of the net.

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oldun says...
10:15am Mon 17 Dec 12

Shrink has cured me of automatic promotionitis. To state the blindingly obvious, if you come above the eighth placed team even on goal difference then you are at least into the playoffs.

From 2000-2001 to 2011-12 , the eighth placed team in the fourth tier has got between 68 and 72 points on ten of the twelve occasions.

One was United – 69 points in 2002-3.

The other two were 63 in 2005/6 and 74 in 2003/4

Approaching the half way stage , to get 70 points we need to get 44 points from 24

If we lost only 6 (phew) of the 24 , then we would need 44 points from the remaining 18 matches . Win 13 draw 5 and lose 6 (ouch) would give us 70

I can’t see us reaching the lottery of the play offs - can you? Latter day Ian Greaves where art thou?

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oldun says...
10:27am Mon 17 Dec 12

We are resigned to at least one more season of playing largely much much much much smaller clubs - I await the flak!!! I am sure that Rovers and Plymouth (and Wrexham and Luton) fans feel the same - as do some others

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