Tranmere R . . . . . . . . 2, Oxford Utd . . . . . . . . .0

Attendance: 5,328

TRANMERE are left to fly the flag for Merseyside in the Worthington Cup this season, after last Tuesday's victory over Nationwide League Division Two club Oxford United set up a fourth round tie with Barnsley.

Make no mistake, Tranmere were full value for their victory, although they had Republic of Ireland youth international goalkeeper Joe Murphy to thank. Murphy, who replaced John Achterberg, made a dream debut for Tranmere, saving a crucial penalty with the score 0-0.

Rovers striker Scott Taylor was unfortunate not to give his side a first-half lead when he fired a stinging shot against the bar.

Oxford had a great chance to take the lead when they were awarded a somewhat dubious penalty on the stroke of half-time. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Up stepped Matt Murphy and Joe Murphy produced a fantastic save to send the Rovers' fans delirious.

Murphy's heroics spurred Tranmere on and they started the second-half on fire. The magnificent Alan Mahon set up captain Steve Yates, whose deflected shot found the net for 1-0 on 57 minutes.

Tony Grant made it 2-0 on 63 minutes, his weak shot somehow creeping past Ardense in the Oxford goal. It was a real howler by the Oxford 'keeper.

Tranmere: Murphy, Yates, Roberts, Challinor, Hill, Mahon, Grant, L. Jones (sub: Parkinson, 80 mins), Kelly, Taylor (sub: Black, 80 mins), Henry.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.