| OXFORD
City have never beaten a Football League side in their
117-year history and they were cruelly denied at Adams
Park last night when the game was abandoned after a fire
alert. Ten days ago, City bravely forced a replay with Wycombe Wanderers in the first round of the FA Cup and last night they had a golden opportunity to reach the second round after extra-time finished with the score level on 1-1. City's heroes had matched their Nationwide Division 2 opponents throughout the 210 minutes played in the first round and penalties were the only way this match was going to be settled. |
City
keeper Alan Foster was ready to face Steve Brown's first
spot-kick when the home officials took the decision to
abandon the match after a small electrical fire was
discovered under the stand housing City supporters. So City were robbed of their chance of glory. Foster was raring to seize the headlines and the 24-year-old keeper said: "It was my chance to be a hero. All the pressure was on Wycombe and I fancied our chances. "I have saved a few penalties before. I feel let down, but I suppose they have to think of safety first." |
He
added: "I think the Wycombe players were as bemused
as us about what was happening." City players hung around on the pitch for a long time before the grim reality sunk in that the match had been abandoned. Skipper Matty Hayward, who also saw the penalty shoot-out as a great chance for City to go through, summed up the mood in the dressing room. He said: "I am delighted with the draw but gutted with the way it has ended. "Everybody has performed tremendously. Our supporters have been fantastic, but this ending has put a dampener on the whole evening." |
City
manger Paul Lee, who said his side had been practising
penalties in training last Thursday, said:"We won
the toss and had the goal with our supporters behind it.
We had a great chance." City's teenage striker Dwaine Strong said he was "gutted' - and he had every reason to be. The 18-year-old roofer scored one of the best goals of the round when he fired City ahead in the 40th minute, putting the second division side on the rack before Mark Simpson equalised after 59 minutes. But in the end, it all counted for nothing and the sides must try again for a third time - hopefully,at Court Place Farm. |