THE drama of the FA Cup is alive and well after a roller-coaster 94 minutes at the Crown Ground this weekend.

The news that Ian Dunbavin would not start due to a bad shoulder injury filtered through just before kick-off and his replacement would be Paul Rachubka signed on an emergency loan from Leeds United.

I hope Bavs makes a speedy recovery as he has been in superb form this season proving that keepers get better with age.

James Beattie once again showed his class with what can only be described as a wonder goal from outside the penalty area.

Not to be outdone Lee Molyneux smashed in a cracking free kick which on another day would have been enough to have secured our ticket to the next round.

But alas it was not to be and Oxford scored in the 94th minute to set up the replay we could well do without.

The winners will be at home to Sheffield United in the first week of the New Year, not quite Manchester United or Chelsea, but for my money Sheffield United are a big club with great fans whom I (hopefully) cannot wait to have a pint or two with in the Crown.

The replay will have much to live up to and I have no doubt there will be plenty of goals, fingers crossed most of them are in the Oxford net.