Oxford 3-1 Morecambe: Penalty pain not costly for Oxford

Oxford recovered from James Henry's missed penalty as they maintained their position in the League One play-offs with an entertaining 3-1 home win over lowly Morecambe.

Goals from Steve Seddon, Mark Sykes and Matty Taylor ensured that Cole Stockton's stunning second-half equaliser for Morecambe was not enough to earn them a point, as the visitors drop to 19th in the table.

Henry's penalty miss had looked like being the game's major turning point, particularly after Stockton's clinical volley, but Sykes's opportunistic goal and Taylor's neat finish ensured a scoreline which was a little harsh on Morecambe.

After a relatively even start to the game, it was the visitors who had the first clear-cut chance after 20 minutes, when Adam Phillips blazed over from outside the box.

But Oxford gradually grew in confidence and took the lead through Steve Seddon's header just before the half-hour mark.

Nathan Holland could have made it 2-0 shortly before half time but his effort was well saved by Morecambe goalkeeper Joküll Andrésson.

Morecambe, in the red shirts, prepare to take a free kick. They are faced by a wall of Oxford players in yellow shirts

Andrésson's afternoon quickly took a turn for the worse seven minutes after half time, as he conceded a penalty for clumsily fouling Taylor. Henry inexplicably smashed the resulting kick high over the bar, a miss which looked even more crucial when Stockton brought Morecambe level with his 11th league goal of the season on 64 minutes.

Oxford's players could not claim they hadn't been warned. Ryan Delaney had already wasted what was arguably a much easier chance to equalise after 49 minutes, somehow missing from six yards out.

Stockton's eventual equaliser seemed to jolt Oxford into life, and they went back in front nine minutes later as Mark Sykes reacted quickest to stab home after Taylor's effort had been saved.

The second goal deflated Morecambe, and Taylor's delicate chip over Andrésson with three minutes remaining secured the three points for Oxford and ensured that the majority of the 8766 spectators went home happy.