Morecambe 2-4 Oxford: Oxford show ruthless streak

Oxford maintained their promotion push with a 4-2 victory over 10-man Morecambe in Sky Bet League Two.

A red card for home striker Shaun Miller on 70 minutes turned the game, as Michael Appleton's U's showed their ruthless streak with three goals in the last 20 minutes.

The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute with their first real attack of the game.

Chris Maguire crossed to the far post, Alex MacDonald volleyed back into the danger area and top scorer Kemar Roofe was perfectly placed to volley past Barry Roche from six yards out.

Oxford then dominated with Liam Sercombe drilling a long-range shot inches wide and Roofe forcing a save from Roche after some good work down the right.

Roche was forced into another neat save from Johnny Mullins' free header before Roofe just missed the target from a near-post effort.

The hosts were back on level terms courtesy of a superb strike from Lee Molyneux, who took the ball on the edge of the Oxford area and brilliantly chipped Benji Buchel.

Morecambe then had the better of the game for a spell, without creating too many chances.

But the match turned on Miller's red card for a late tackle on Joe Skarz, as within a minute Oxford were ahead.

Substitute Callum O'Dowda swung over a 72nd-minute right-wing corner and John Lundstrom slammed home the loose ball from six yards after being found by Jake Wright.

Two minutes later it was 3-1. O'Dowda was again the provider with a right-wing corner that was met by Lundstrom and, although his effort was superbly saved by Roche, Danny Hylton was perfectly placed to poke the rebound home from close range.

Oxford added a fourth goal 10 minutes from time, Sercombe playing in Jordan Bowery and the substitute finishing calmly past the helpless Roche.

Morecambe pulled one back in stoppage time when Tom Barkhuizen scored from close range after Ryan Edwards had flicked on a Paul Mullin corner to score from six yards out.