Oxford United have progressed to the second round of the FA Cup after a hard-fought win over non-league Hayes and Yeading United.
The U’s dominated the first half but only had a one-goal lead at the break courtesy of Sam Long, but despite the hosts having a go in the second half, a Rob Hall finish secured the win for Karl Robinson’s side.
Your #oufc XI this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/xTeBHrtnn8
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) November 10, 2019
Robinson made four changes from the side that drew at Portsmouth last weekend. Elliott Moore, Chris Cadden, Shandon Baptiste and Anthony Forde all came in. Josh Ruffels missed out through injury, while John Mousinho, Mark Sykes and Jamie Mackie all dropped to the bench as the U’s reverted back to their usual formation.
Simon Eastwood remained in goal, with Long on the left and the returning Cadden back on the right, with Moore and Rob Dickie in the middle.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat in front of the back four, behind James Henry and Baptiste, with Tariqe Fosu and Forde as the wide men. Matty Taylor, who scored the added time equaliser at Fratton Park, began up top on his own.
As expected, the U’s dominated from the off and showcased some sublime passing and quick movements. Baptiste, then Fosu, both saw efforts easily saved by goalkeeper Jack Smith, before Dickie headed wide from a corner.
The U’s soon thought they had the lead when Cadden’s cross was tapped home by Taylor, but the on-loan Bristol City man had strayed offside.
The striker then saw a header saved, before Fosu smashed the bar with a terrific effort from 25-yards.
The U’s continued their dominance; Henry fired over when he really should have done better following a terrific Oxford move before Taylor was again denied by Hayes’ number one.
Henry then missed another opportunity, but eventually, the U’s found the opener on the half-hour mark. From a corner, Taylor was again denied by the goalkeeper but Long was on hand to tuck home his second goal of the season.
Fosu was then denied, Gorrin saw an effort from outside the box blocked before the Spaniard jinked through the defence but his effort was deflected wide.
The U’s had another handful of corners before the break but were unable to add a deserved second goal.
Despite their first-half dominance, Oxford started the second half slowly and was fortunate not to concede.
Joe Grant had a great chance to equalise from Oko Obi’s cross, but his effort was straight at Eastwood.
For Oxford, all they needed was that second goal, and when Hall replaced Forde, that’s exactly what they got. The winger latched on to Taylor’s pass before cleverly lifting the ball over the unfortunate goalkeeper.
Hayes kept Eastwood busy as they searched for a way back into the game, with two efforts from Hasson Jalloh denied brilliantly by the Oxford number one.
At the other end, Hall struck the post as the U’s squandered yet more opportunities, but the League One side held off the threat from the side four divisions below them to reach the second round of the FA Cup.
