SHEARER’S TURN IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Keeper’s saves keep U’s Wembley dream alive
OXFORD United’s bid to make it third time lucky in the Checkatrade Trophy is still on track – after the U’s held their nerve to beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 on penalties on Tuesday night.
Following defeats in the final to Barnsley and Coventry in the past two seasons, they appear determined to go all the way this time.
In their third-round tie at Charlton, the U’s fell behind to Karlan Ahearne-Grant’s seventh-minute effort.
However, they were back on terms when Wes Thomas slid the ball home nine minutes after the break.
After the sides couldn’t be separated in the 90 minutes, Oxford keeper Scott Shearer came to the fore in the penalty shoot-out that followed.
He saved from Johnnie Jackson and Stephy Mavididi, while Reeco Hackett Fairchild fired over.
While the Addicks stumbled, the U’s were more clinical, Alex Mowatt, Jon Obika and Agon Mehmeti scoring and only Ryan Ledson being denied by Addicks keeper Dillon Phillips.
“You can only be the hero with penalties and luckily tonight it went my way,” said a modest Shearer, who also praised the U’s analysis team for making sure he had all the info he needed.
Praise
Two other ties were decided on penalties, both after goalless draws. Visitors
Peterborough triumphed 7-6 at Luton, keeper Jonathan Bond saving the decisive penalty from Luton’s Frankie Musonda.
And in Wednesday night’s sole tie, Shrewsbury won their all-League One tie against Blackpool 4-2 on spot-kicks. Shrews keeper Dean Henderson saved from Danny Philliskirk, while
Rowan Roache also missed for the Seasiders.
Yeovil followed up their FA Cup heroics against Bradford in the FA Cup by progressing to the quarter-finals with a solid 2-0 home win against Forest Green Rovers.
Nathan Jones bagged the opener in the third minute and a tidy finish from Connor Smith on 26 minutes put the Glovers in cruise control.
The possibility of an academy side reaching the Wembley showpiece final is still alive after Chelsea U21s won 2-1 at Portsmouth.
It looked as though the tie was heading for penalties when sub Brett Pitman equalised for Pompey in the second minute of injury time.
However, there was a further twist in front of a 3,000strong crowd when Charly Musonda, who had earlier given Chelsea a 58th-minute lead, struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a superb free-kick.
Postponed
There is also a possibility the Blues will be joined by another development side in the last eight.
Leicester U21s’ visit to Oldham was postponed due to a frozen pitch and the teams will try again on Wednesday (7.30pm).
Leicester’s FA Cup opponents Fleetwood Town made it through to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 success at Bury.
Jordy Hiwula netted twice for the Cod Army, while Bobby Grant was also on the mark from the penalty spot.
Harry Bunn and sub Tsun Dai scored for the struggling Shakers, and Chris Maguire struck the woodwork from 25 yards at the death.
Lincoln City’s fine season on their return to the EFL continued as they won 1-0 at League One side Rochdale. Striker Ollie Palmer proved the hero by scoring from six yards in the 88th minute.
The winners pocketed £40,000 in prize money.
Quarter-finals: Lincoln v Peterborough; Shrewsbury v Oldham/Leicester U21; Chelsea U21 v Oxford; Yeovil v Fleetwood (ties to be played week commencing Jan 22).