Oxford ended their run of five successive defeats with a goalless draw at Morecambe.

Lewis Alessandra forced visiting keeper Ryan Clarke into three saves with long distance strikes.

The U's improved after the interval and Shrimps custodian Barry Roche made excellent saves from Asa Hall and Damian Batt.

Alessandra saw a shot fly inches wide as both teams were forced to settle for a point.

U's midfielder Adam Chapman made his first appearance for the club since their play-off final win over York City in May 2010, following his release from prison in September for causing death by dangerous driving .

A subsequent foot injury has prevented him from making a first-team appearance since then.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Oxford United coach Andy Melville told BBC Oxford:

"It was a gritty performance, very professional. A lot of teams will get beat here, so it's pleasing to take a point.

"We won battles all over the pitch and that's helped us to get a positive result.

"It's been a difficult period for Adam Chapman but hopefully now he'll go from strength to strength."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

Morecambe

  • 01 Roche
  • 02 Fenton
  • 06 Haining
  • 15 McCready
  • 07 Reid
  • 16 Drummond
  • 18 McDonald
  • 19 Wilson (Parrish - 83' )
  • 09 Alessandra
  • 10 Jevons (Carlton - 69' )
  • 11 Ellison

Substitutes

  • 12 Routledge
  • 22 Parrish
  • 17 Fleming
  • 29 Price
  • 30 Carlton

Oxford United

  • 01 Clarke
  • 02 Batt Booked
  • 03 Tonkin
  • 06 Wright
  • 16 Whing
  • 08 Heslop (Chapman - 90' )
  • 14 Hall
  • 20 Leven
  • 09 Constable
  • 29 Craddock Booked
  • 31 Guy (Hall - 56' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Brown
  • 22 Worley
  • 07 Chapman
  • 10 Smalley
  • 30 Hall
Ref: Webster
Att: 1,914

Match Stats

Shots

14 11

On target

12 4

Corners

4 6

Fouls

8 10

Live Text Commentary

93:46

The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:31

A cross is delivered by Izak Reid, Peter Leven makes a clearance.

90:00 +3:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Chapman on Kevin Ellison. Lewis Alessandra delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Jake Wright.

90:00 +1:12

Lewis Alessandra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Whing. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

89:32 Substitution

Substitution Simon Heslop leaves the field to be replaced by Adam Chapman.

88:22

The ball is crossed by Damian Batt, clearance by Nick Fenton.

88:07

Centre by Damian Batt, Nick Fenton manages to make a clearance.

87:59

Damian Batt produces a cross, Chris McCready manages to make a clearance.

86:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Leven by Gary McDonald. Anthony Tonkin takes the free kick.

85:51

Izak Reid crosses the ball, Asa Hall manages to make a clearance.

85:00

Andy Parrish delivers the ball.

84:33

A cross is delivered by Anthony Tonkin, save by Barry Roche.

84:05

The ball is swung over by Tom Craddock, clearance made by Chris McCready.

82:31 Substitution

Substitution Andy Parrish comes on in place of Laurence Wilson.

77:40

Tom Craddock sends in a cross, Will Haining manages to make a clearance.

75:57

The ball is crossed by Stewart Drummond, clearance by Andrew Whing.

75:03

The ball is delivered by Robert Hall, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Barry Roche by Tom Craddock. Free kick taken by Barry Roche.

74:24

Corner taken by Peter Leven from the right by-line, Anthony Tonkin takes a shot. Will Haining makes a clearance.

74:11

Damian Batt takes a shot. Save by Barry Roche.

72:45

Corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven.

72:39

Asa Hall produces a cross, clearance by Stewart Drummond.

71:23

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven from the right by-line, Will Haining manages to make a clearance.

69:28

Nick Fenton sends in a cross.

68:45 Substitution

Substitution Danny Carlton joins the action as a substitute, replacing Phil Jevons.

68:28

Izak Reid produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

68:22

The ball is crossed by Laurence Wilson.

67:53

Corner from the left by-line taken by Simon Heslop, save by Barry Roche.

67:03

Foul by Gary McDonald on James Constable, free kick awarded. Peter Leven has an effort direct from the free kick, Barry Roche makes a save.

65:47

Lewis Alessandra has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide left of the goal.

65:26

Izak Reid delivers the ball, clearance by Jake Wright.

65:20

Laurence Wilson sends in a cross.

65:01

Laurence Wilson sends in a cross, Andrew Whing gets a block in.

62:30

Centre by Stewart Drummond, clearance by Damian Batt.

61:26

Laurence Wilson takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

60:33

Asa Hall takes a shot. Will Haining manages to make a clearance.

60:15

Stewart Drummond sends in a cross.

60:10

The ball is crossed by Izak Reid.

57:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Peter Leven on Lewis Alessandra. Kevin Ellison produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

57:00

Tom Craddock has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

56:25

Izak Reid produces a cross, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance.

55:40 Substitution

Substitution Robert Hall joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lewis Guy.

54:02

James Constable has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

53:40

Lewis Alessandra takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

53:24

The ball is delivered by Chris McCready.

53:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lewis Alessandra by Jake Wright. Stewart Drummond takes the direct free kick.

51:36

Andrew Whing fouled by Kevin Ellison, the ref awards a free kick. Damian Batt restarts play with the free kick.

49:17

The offside flag is raised against Lewis Guy. Barry Roche takes the free kick.

48:55

Stewart Drummond takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

48:48

The ball is crossed by Laurence Wilson.

48:04

The ball is swung over by Izak Reid, clearance made by Anthony Tonkin.

47:31

The assistant referee signals for offside against Lewis Guy. Barry Roche restarts play with the free kick.

47:07

A cross is delivered by Anthony Tonkin, save made by Barry Roche.

46:42

Asa Hall takes a shot. Save by Barry Roche.

46:06

Kevin Ellison is ruled offside. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

45:14

Corner from the left by-line taken by Lewis Alessandra, Lewis Guy makes a clearance.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:41

The ref blows to signal half-time.

41:05

Lewis Alessandra takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

40:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Phil Jevons by Andrew Whing. Free kick taken by Nick Fenton.

39:45

Andrew Whing produces a cross, clearance made by Chris McCready.

39:33

Lewis Guy delivers the ball, clearance by Chris McCready.

38:24

A cross is delivered by Damian Batt, Barry Roche makes a save.

36:07

Lewis Alessandra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Peter Leven. Peter Leven produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Barry Roche.

35:07

Corner taken right-footed by Simon Heslop, clearance by Nick Fenton.

34:43

Effort from deep inside the area by James Constable misses to the left of the target.

34:10

Lewis Alessandra takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

32:25

Tom Craddock is adjudged to have handled the ball. Will Haining takes the indirect free kick.

31:59

Asa Hall crosses the ball.

31:13

Will Haining concedes a free kick for a foul on James Constable. Direct free kick taken by Peter Leven.

29:15

The ball is delivered by Izak Reid, save by Ryan Clarke. Corner taken by Laurence Wilson, clearance by Anthony Tonkin. Save by Ryan Clarke.

30:30

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Gary McDonald, Chris McCready takes a shot. Ryan Clarke gets a block in.

29:15

Izak Reid sends in a cross, save by Ryan Clarke. Inswinging corner taken by Laurence Wilson from the right by-line, clearance by Anthony Tonkin. Ryan Clarke makes a save.

28:04

Izak Reid takes a shot. Blocked by Anthony Tonkin.

27:44

Damian Batt fouled by Kevin Ellison, the ref awards a free kick. Damian Batt restarts play with the free kick.

26:55 Booking

Booking Tom Craddock is shown a yellow card.

26:05

The ball is swung over by Simon Heslop, Will Haining fouled by Tom Craddock, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Barry Roche.

24:50

Shot from just outside the box by Peter Leven goes over the bar.

24:44

Damian Batt produces a cross, Will Haining makes a clearance.

24:26

James Constable takes a shot. Chris McCready gets a block in.

24:20

Damian Batt delivers the ball, Chris McCready manages to make a clearance.

23:08

A cross is delivered by Nick Fenton, save made by Ryan Clarke.

22:30

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lewis Alessandra from the right by-line, Stewart Drummond takes a shot. Blocked by Jake Wright.

22:13

Lewis Alessandra takes a shot. Ryan Clarke makes a save.

21:45

Unfair challenge on Chris McCready by James Constable results in a free kick. Barry Roche takes the indirect free kick.

18:49

Kevin Ellison fouled by Andrew Whing, the ref awards a free kick. Nick Fenton takes the free kick.

17:33

The assistant referee flags for offside against Phil Jevons. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

17:25

The ball is delivered by Chris McCready.

16:49

The ball is delivered by Laurence Wilson, Peter Leven manages to make a clearance.

16:42

Laurence Wilson produces a cross.

15:32

Nick Fenton restarts play with the free kick.

15:32 Booking

Booking Damian Batt is cautioned.

15:18

Handball by Damian Batt.

14:45

Inswinging corner taken by Peter Leven, Will Haining makes a clearance.

14:39

The ball is swung over by Damian Batt, clearance by Will Haining.

14:25

Lewis Alessandra takes a shot. Blocked by Andrew Whing.

13:56

Kevin Ellison sends in a cross, Andrew Whing manages to make a clearance.

9:43

The ball is swung over by Damian Batt.

8:57

The ball is delivered by Damian Batt, Will Haining manages to make a clearance.

7:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Craddock on Laurence Wilson. Barry Roche takes the indirect free kick.

6:40

Peter Leven challenges Kevin Ellison unfairly and gives away a free kick. Will Haining restarts play with the free kick.

6:22

Unfair challenge on James Constable by Chris McCready results in a free kick. Peter Leven takes the free kick.

5:56

Kevin Ellison takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

4:26

Damian Batt delivers the ball, clearance by Chris McCready.

4:17

James Constable crosses the ball, Chris McCready makes a clearance.

2:30

Damian Batt crosses the ball, clearance made by Will Haining.

0:13

Simon Heslop sends in a cross, blocked by Nick Fenton.

0:00

The game begins.

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