Everton survived a first-half scare at the Manor Ground and had Danny
Cadamarteri to thank for earning them a draw against Oxford's gallant cup
battlers.
Walter Smith fielded an under-strength side but his array of internationals
still laboured to beat the injury-hit Division Two club.
Cadamarteri, making his first start of the season, pounced in the 29th minute
after Matt Murphy had given Oxford sight of a cup upset with an opener eight
minutes earlier.
Murphy's back-post header delighted Oxford's success-starved faithful but the
Toffees will expect to complete the job on Merseyside next week after sealing a
draw.
Malcolm Shotton lifted the League Cup in happier Oxford days but he has
encountered all manner of problems since taking the reins at the Manor Ground.
Preparation for this Worthington Cup second round first leg tie was hampered
by basic lack of personnel after a 2-1 home defeat to Gillingham on Saturday.
The Oxford boss was forced to call his youth team coach Mickey Lewis into his
injury-ravaged side.
Thirty-five-year-old Lewis, making his first senior start in more than three
years, was thrown into the centre of a makeshift defence alongside skipper Les
Robinson and half-fit Steve Davis.
The trio battled bravely and for, large periods of the game, contained Everton
the lively Cadamarteri and Don Hutchison.
Smith left his first-choice spearhead of Francis Jeffers, Kevin Campbell and
Nick Barmby on the bench as he made eight changes from the side which beat
Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.
The Toffees boss was still able to call on a host of high-calibre replacements
in stark contrast to Shotton.
After a bright Oxford start, Everton looked to be in control. Terry Phelan,
David Unsworth and Hutchison all went close before the home team took the lead.
Murphy leapt high inside a crowded Everton penalty area to reach a Joey
Beauchamp free-kick, in the 21st minute, and nod the ball into the net off the
foot of the post.
It was the seventh goal of a prolific season for the 28-year-old striker and
problems mounted for Smith's Everton two minutes later when Phelan was
stretchered-off.
Mitch Ward, however, replaced Phelan with dramatic effect. He slotted into the
right of Everton's midfield and immediately carved out an opening for
Cadamarteri to equalise.
He found the England under-21 international with his back to goal, Cadamarteri
showed good strength to hold off two Oxford defenders and he spun neatly to fire
home from close range.
Both sides enjoyed possession and chances in the second half and Scot Gemmill
came closest to winning the tie with a fine run and shot which was saved by
Andre Arendse.
Teams
Oxford Utd: Arendse, Folland (McGowan 76), Davis, Robinson,
Lewis, Powell, Beauchamp, Fear, Tait, Lilley (Cook 63), Murphy.
Subs Not Used: Lundin, Lambert, Weatherstone.
Booked: Lewis, Tait.
Goals: Murphy 21.
Everton: Simonsen, Cleland, Weir, Unsworth, Ball, Gemmill,
Collins (Campbell 80), Xavier, Phelan (Ward 23), Hutchison,
Cadamarteri (Jeffers 80).
Subs Not Used: Barmby, Gerrard.
Booked: Cadamarteri, Unsworth, Xavier, Hutchison.
Goals: Cadamarteri 29.
Att: 7,345
Ref: M Fletcher (Warley).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook
