Kyle Joseph's first goal for the club saw Oxford United hit back to claim their first draw of the season as the on-loan Swansea forward's strike cancelled out a Jensen Weir opener at the Kassam Stadium.
United dominated long periods of the game but in the end were thankful for Joseph's close-range goal as Morecambe otherwise kept them at bay.
Patience was the key as Morecambe conceded ground and possession right from the start. It was a dangerous game to play - James Henry flashed an early drive just wide and Joseph was full of running on his full debut - but it was the visitors’ Liam Gibson who had the best chance to break the deadlock before the break when he blasted over the bar on 16 minutes after a good break from Derek Adams’ side.
Cameron Brannagan ran clear on 24 after good work from Joseph but was unable to beat former United loanee Connor Ripley, Matty Taylor had two efforts blocked, but Morecambe had defended stoutly and the U’s hadn’t found a way to turn perspiration into inspiration.
What we needed was a goal to open the game up. The Shrimps brought on highly rated Cole Stockton at the break and were ahead inside two minutes, scoring from their only shot on target all afternoon. A ball across from the Morecambe left found United overrun on their left-hand flack. Sub Dyan Connolly flicked the ball into space and Weir walloped it into the net via the fingertips of the exposed Eastwood.
One goal down with a half to play, rather than two as has been the case, United raised their game immediately and ensured it was a setback rather than a disaster.
Bodin and Taylor went close from long range and Henry saw an effort from the edge of the box deflected wide for a corner. A goal was coming and it was from that corner that United drew level. Taylor headed the ball back from the far post, Sam Long made a nuisance of himself in front of the keeper and Joseph hooked the ball home from close range for his first goal for the U’s.
The on-loan Swansea man might have had a second soon after but headed into the hands of Ripley as United turned first-half domination into, well, something even more dominant with 65 per cent of the ball, 26 shots at goal and Morecambe dropping deeper and deeper. Taylor and Brannagan had further efforts, Ripley repelled a 30-yard effort from Brannagan with 15 minutes to go and play was almost exclusively in the Morecambe half for the last half hour.
Sadly, yet again, United were hit by a late injury when the magnificent McGuane took the ball down in the centre circle but fell to ground immediately, in some discomfort. He hobbled off and hopefully the injury isn't too serious, but barely a game goes past without some new injury misfortune at the moment.
Sub Slavi Spasov had an injury-time chance to win it but was denied by a heroic challenge inside the six yard box to prevent any late drama this time, but United had played well, especially with half a team missing through injury before they even started.
The season moves on to Carabao Cup action against Crystal Palace on Tuesday. See you there.
Att: 6,813
Away: 130
Fifty/50 winning number 35590 wins £850
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels and Steve Edmunds, stats by OPTA