THE scoreline was inevitable, so the only question was who would step up to be Oxford United’s hero.

With momentum in their favour and 3-2 wins at Shrewsbury Town in the last two seasons fresh in the memory, it was always likely history would repeat itself heading into the latter stages at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Sam Long was a fitting match-winner in United's last comeback, against Gillingham on April 17, and Agyei was just as deserving of his moment.

Karl Robinson: Oxford United did not panic with play-off hopes on the line

The forward scored a stunning equaliser when the U's won at Shrewsbury last March and although his effort yesterday was less visually pleasing, it showed how far he has come.

On United's previous visit to Shropshire, Agyei was a player who would either delight or frustrate and rarely give you anything in between.

He would not have scored a goal like the one that secured the points yesterday, when he showed his newfound composure by taking his time before shooting past Harry Burgoyne.

The U's still needed two excellent stoppage-time saves from Jack Stevens to deny Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Shaun Whalley, but such drama is to be expected in this most unpredictable of seasons.

The 90 minutes at Shrewsbury was a typical rollercoaster in this campaign of highs and lows.

Everyone was expecting the hosts to raise their game with manager Steve Cotterill in attendance for the first time in 2021.

Elliot Lee’s third-minute opener appeared to extinguish that threat, but United let their opponents back into the game and conceded two poor goals.

Leaving Matthew Pennington unmarked to head home Shrewsbury's equaliser is even more frustrating considering the U's had just defended three corners in a row.

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They will also be disappointed a harmless, hopeful pass forward ended with Josh Vela getting in behind the defence - another goal where the scorer's run was not tracked.

United were poor towards the end of the first half and at the start of the second, with that cutting edge in the final third lacking - a familiar failing this season.

But they deserve enormous credit for the way they stayed calm and waited for the chances to come, as well as the quality of the first two goals.

WATCH: All the goals from yesterday

Both Mark Sykes and Matty Taylor could have shot before the latter set up Lee for the opener, with the U's rediscovering that ruthlessness when a slick move set Henry up for the second.

Even after the equaliser they did not panic and Agyei's winner takes United's play-off challenge to the final day of the season.

Their fate is out of their hands, but to still be in the hunt is a great achievement.