December 8, 2002: Oxford United 1, Swindon Town 0

A CROWD of 11,645 watched the first derby at the Kassam Stadium as Jefferson Louis sealed a 1-0 win for Oxford United over fierce rivals Swindon Town, writes JACOB HAWLEY.

The U’s progressed to the third round of the FA Cup thanks to the striker’s header in the 65th minute, earning his side a glamour tie against holders Arsenal at Highbury.

United were in Division Three and had been managed by Ian Atkins for 11 months.

The U’s boss was managing in his first derby, with the second round tie the 50th competitive fixture between the two rivals.

The game started brightly, but following a fast-paced opening 20 minutes, it begun to slow down – both sides perhaps cautious of one another, with the stakes even higher in this televised knockout fixture.

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The only goal of the contest came shortly after the hour mark as Scott McNiven’s long throw was flicked on by Louis.

Steve Basham’s presence in the box was enough to confuse Bart Griemink in goal, giving the U’s a lead to hold on to.

Basham said: “Jefferson got in a tremendous flick.

“I just tried to get on the end but couldn’t touch it, but I did enough to put the keeper off and for it to go in the corner.”

Once United had a grip on the tie, Swindon found themselves chasing the game for large spells.

They threw men forward in the final ten minutes in an attempt to clinch a trip to Highbury to face Arsene Wenger’s Premier League leaders.

But it was United who would be making the visit to the capital in the third round, as Atkins’ side held on for a famous 1-0 victory; just their ninth triumph over their rivals.

United: Woodman, McNiven, Waterman, Crosby, Bound, Robinson, Hunt, Ford (Whitehead 87), Savage, Louis, Basham (Sall 90). Unused subs: Steele, Hackett, Hunter.