In the world of football
what's better than winning? Winning against the odds, of course.
There is little sweeter than snatching something from a game when all
appeared lost, particularly if it happens to come right at the end of
the match. So we thought we'd trawl our
Youtube archives to bring you some of the finest comebacks engineered by various Oxford United sides through the years. Enjoy!
5-2 v Leeds United, 24th
November 1984
The mighty yellows had
started the season well and already had their eye on the Division Two
title when fifth-placed Leeds came to the Manor for the first ever
league encounter between the two clubs. Leeds, for their part, were
looking for revenge after being dumped out of the League Cup by
Oxford the previous season and raced to a two-goal lead. Gary Briggs
pulled a goal back before half-time to reignite hopes of a result but
few could have predicted what would follow after the break. Billy
Hamilton equalised almost immediately after the restart before John
Aldridge stole the show with an incredible hat-trick.
5-5 v Portsmouth, 3rd
November 1995
As this match entered the
final 20 minutes it appeared that Oxford would be on the end of a
thrashing, having been completely dominated by Portsmouth for the
majority of the game. In fact, they could have scored more than the
five they did manage if not for an impressive display of goalkeeping
from Paul Reece but they were nevertheless 3-0 up with half an hour
played and it looked like things might get embarrassing. Dave Penney
pulled one back but hopes of a comeback were shortlived as we shipped
another at the other end, though Jim Magilton volleyed home to reduce
the deficit to two goals once again. United looked to be dead and
buried when Pompey made it 5-2 and when John Durnin netted a third Oxford
goal in the 73rd it looked little more than a consolation.
Magilton converted a penalty in injury time to bring it back to 5-4
and immediately from the restart Chrissy Allen seized on a rebound to
cap a remarkable comeback as the yellows snatched a point.
2-1 v York City, 8th
August 2009
The summer of 2009 was
filled with promise as Chris Wilder rebuilt the side ready for a
promotion challenge. Hopes were high going into the opening day clash
with York but as the match entered the final minutes things had
fallen a little flat. York deservedly led 1-0 after Richard Brodie
broke free and were looking assured as United struggled to get into
sort of rhythm during the game. Then, on 88 minutes, Matt Green was
put through by Luke Foster and flicked over the goalkeeper to
equalise. But the drama wasn't over there and with the game now into
injury time Mark Creighton came up for a corner to fire in after
chaos in the penalty area.
2-1 v Crawley Town, 1st
December 2009
The 2009-10 season had
drama aplenty but few matches could have topped this one. United were
1-0 down and struggling at the Broadfield Stadium after falling
behind on 15 minutes. In desperation Chris Wilder chucked on James
Constable, Alfie Potter and Onome Sodje late in the game in an
attempt to reverse his side's fortunes but still it looked like we
would be going home empty-handed. Then, with seven minutes left to
play, Adam Chapman levelled the scores and Oxford were looking
ascendant. When James Constable won a penalty deep in injury time it
appeared the comeback was complete but he saw his spot-kick saved. It seemed we'd have to be content with a point, until Chapman crossed
for Constable to ghost in in the 92nd minute.
3-3 v Accrington Stanley,
1st December 2012
Late action was the order
of the day in this
goal-fest
last season. United seemed to have thrown it away when Jon-Paul
Pittman's opener was cancelled out before the break and when James
Beattie gave the hosts the lead with a wonder-goal ten minutes from
time it appeared Oxford would be sent crashing out of the FA Cup.
Alfie Potter played in James Constable to level just six minutes
later but any plans for the replay were put on hold when Lee Molyneux
curled in a free-kick in stoppage time. But up stepped Michael Raynes
to save the day as he headed in in the 94
th minute to keep
the yellows hanging on by the skin of their teeth in the tie, just
seconds before the final whistle.
Oxford were frustratingly
held to a goalless draw against League Two's bottom side Accrington
Stanley. United were poor in the first half but created a host of
chances without finding the net in the second. As a result, United
drop out of the top three but due to results elsewhere are now just a
point off top spot.
This weekend the league's
best away side travel to the league's worst home side. While Oxford
have dropped just two points on the road so far this season,
Accrington are still waiting for their first win at the Crown Ground. We've all been here before, the script is written etc
etc.
Oxford
managed to get their name into the hat for the third round draw of
the FA Cup in dramatic circumstances with a 3-3 draw at Accrington
Stanley. The two sides were level at 1-1 after 80 minutes, but a
frantic final stage saw them share four goals and a 94th-minute
equaliser for United from this season's scapegoat of choice, Michael
Raynes. But it came at the cost of both JP Pittman and Andy Whing,
both of whom had to be stretchered off having only recently recovered
from long injury layoffs. And the remarkable events of the day were
overshadowed by the death of Mitchell Cole at the tragically young
age of 27. RIP Mitchell.
As
far as FA Cup second round ties go, a trip to Accrington Stanley is
probably among the least desirable. It's not just because of the lack
of glamour surrounding our opponents, but also because it's another
away trip up north (we have failed to pick up a point this season
north of Oxford – that's six defeats from six league games) and it
lacks even the appeal of being against a side from another division –
it's just over a month since the two sides met at the Kassam.