Late goal robs Shrimps of win
A goal two minutes from time denied Morecambe all three points against Oxford at the Globe Arena on Saturday.
Kevin Ellison had given the home side the lead on 77 minutes but substitute Harry Worley was in the right place at the right time to turn home Alfie Potter's cross to give his side a point late on.
It was a slow start from the home side with The U's firing in a warning just 12 seconds in, James Contstable's low shot from the edge of the area going harmlessly wide of Barry Roche's right-hand post.
On eight minutes, Tom Craddock beat the Shrimps offside trap only to see a low effort from 12 yards blocked by the legs of Roche.
With The Shrimps unable to get hold of the ball in the opening stages, Oxford continued to show all the game's attacking intent, Damain Batt forcing Roche to get down low and save a speculative 30-yard effort after the full back had been allowed to run unopposed at the home defence.
It took Jim Bentley's side until the 25th minute to test Ryan Clarke in the Oxford goal.
Andy Wright got the better of a 50-50 with Sean Rigg on the right and his deep cross was offered back in to the centre by Gary McDonald where Jack Redshaw saw a close-range header excellently tipped over by Clarke.
And that was just about that in an immediately forgettable opening 45 minutes.
The Shrimps did show signs of improvement after the break, but didn't test Clarke and it was the visitors who had the first effort of the half with Alfie Potter driving into the box and firing a shot into the side netting just before the hour mark.
Bentley's side did then have a great chance on 63 minutes, McDonald raced onto an excellent chipped pass from Andy Fleming but saw his effort saved by Clarke and the rebound fell to Jack Redshaw who seemmingly had the goal at his mercy only for an excellent defensive block to deny him inside the six-yard box.
With 20 minutes to go, McDonald, who showed plenty of attacking intent from midfield for the home side, was unclucky to see a goal-bound volley flicked over the crossbar by Kevin Ellison.
The increasing Shrimps pressure paid off 13 minutes from time, Ellison directing the ball home from close range to give his side the lead after Chris McCready had got his head to an Andy Wright corner.
But just when it looked like The Shrimps might sneak the three points, Potter turned two Shrimps defenders on the right hand side and drove at the box before firing in a cross come shot that was turned home by Worley from 12 yards to give his side a deserved point.
Morecambe: Roche, Wright, Fenton (Haining 46), McCready, Mustoe (Parrish 88), Drummond, McDonald, Fleming, Ellison, Redshaw (Alessandra 68), Brodie. Subs not used: Arestidou, Reid, Parkinson, McGee.
Oxford: Clarke, Batt, Raynes, Wright, Capaldi (Worley 83), Potter, Leven, Chapman, Rigg (Davis 67), Constable, Craddock (Forster-Caskey 90). Subs not used: Brown, Cox, O'Brien, Marsh.
Referee: Scott Duncan