A last-minute goal by Joey Beauchamp gave Oxford United's new manager Malcolm
Shotton the perfect start against bottom club Portsmouth at the Manor Ground.
The presence of Shotton, who does not take over officially until Monday, could
not lift the side and managerless Pompey were never in danger of losing until a
late substitution ruined their chances of a draw.
Steve Claridge, on loan from Leicester City, went closest to scoring for
Portsmouth and always kept Oxford's defenders on edge.
He had a close range shot blocked after seven minutes and nine minutes later
he lobbed over keeper Phil Whitehead from the edge of the area only for the ball
to bounce off the top of the crossbar.
Late in the game Claridge set up the best opening of the match, putting John
Durnin clear but with only Whitehead to beat he shot wide.
Oxford started promisingly and after five minutes Matt Murphy, allowed to go
on after appearing to push Russell Perrett, forced the ball past Alan Knight and
it went wide of the far post.
Fourteen minutes later Knight could only parry a shot by Beauchamp from a
free-kick and he just managed to grab the ball as Murphy moved in
threateningly.
Midway through the second half, during a spell of Oxford pressure, Stuart
Massey blasted high over the bar from an opening by Beauchamp and Martin Gray
shaved the bar from a Massey chest down.
There was little activity in either goalmouth in the second half until the
79th minute when a header by Nigel Jemson from a Beauchamp cross was
magnificently saved by Knight.
The arrival of Mark Angel for Massey in the 82nd minute swung the match
Oxford's way. In the last minute he crossed from the left to Beauchamp who
sidefooted past Knight to give Oxford their first league win in five matches.
Oxford Utd: Whitehead, Robinson, Marsh (Wilsterman 19), Gray,
Purse, Gilchrist, Massey (Angel 82), Smith,
Murphy (Weatherstone 62), Jemson, Beauchamp.
Goals: Beauchamp 90.
Portsmouth: Knight, Waterman (Aloisi 90), Thomson, McLoughlin,
Whitbread, Perrett, Hall, Simpson, Durnin, Claridge, Carter.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Hinshelwood.
Booked: Perrett, Simpson.
Att: 7,402
Ref: F G Stretton (Nottingham).
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