Louis finds way past Swindon to earn big pay-day at Highbury

Oxford United 1 Swindon Town

When Oxford United ever get around to building a fourth stand, there is little doubt who they should now name it after. The Jefferson Louis Stand has a ring to it and would be entirely fitting after the striker earned the Third Division club a visit to Highbury in the FA Cup third round, a till-ringing trip that will go a long way to paying for the necessary building work to finish off the Kassam Stadium.

It was the 23-year-old's goal after 65 minutes of an absorbing derby that sent Swindon, of the Second Division, back across the Wiltshire border rueing a second-half performance that in no way lived up to their first. For Oxford it was that rarest of days in a miserable recent history: one to remember. To beat your most deadly rivals is one thing, but to do so on national television and then go on to pull out the Double winners is something only supporters and accountants alike could ever dream of.

"It's massive for us," Ian Atkins, the Oxford manager, said after hearing the draw. "We have to be realistic and say it'll be a big pay day, which is just what the club needs. But I doubt that Arsène Wenger will be taking us lightly – football is a strange game." Indeed it is, just ask Louis. Not so long ago he was serving a jail sentence for what Oxford loosely described as "car-related offences".

The road to retribution started at non-League Thame before Les Taylor, the Oxford scout, suggested Atkins give the gangly forward a try. He did and the rest is now FA Cup history. By 3.10pm yesterday afternoon Louis, a lifelong Arsenal fan, was caught on the BBC cameras leaping around the changing room after hearing the draw, with only a towel to hide his modesty. Swindon could have been forgiven for thinking it was them who he was baring his backside at.

The rivalry between the teams is one of the best-kept secrets in the game – 30 miles may separate them but, in terms of bitterness, they could be next-door neighbours.

As ever in such derbies, the verbals were more lively than the football in an opening half that, possession-wise at least, Swindon dominated. It was therefore ominous for the visitors that the best chances of the first half fell to Oxford. In the 14th minute a Dave Savage cross from the left played James Hunt in on the six-yard line, but his point-blank shot was pushed away by Bart Griemink, the former Netherlands Under-21 goalkeeper. A minute later Griemink had to be sharp to turn away a strike from Louis and on the half-hour mark the Dutchman was again called to arms to tip over Savage's header.

In the meantime, Swindon had enjoyed the bulk of the play, but were unable to make it count. Their lively French striker, Eric Sabin, threatened once or twice, as did Danny Invincibile, but the chances on goal were as sloppily executed as they were rare.

It was more of the same in the second half as all too often Swindon's play broke down when it got to their triple-pronged attack. Sam Parkin, the highly-rated former Chelsea youngster, was particularly ineffective.

Then came Louis' intervention. Scott McNiven's long throw-in from the right into from the area was flicked on by Louis into the path of Steve Basham waiting in front of goal. The striker hesitated before missing it with his head, but, no matter, Griemink had been put off sufficiently to allow the ball to bobble inside his far post. The shock was on and Swindon were in no shape to fight back. In fact, Oxford had the rest of the chances and should have been awarded a penalty in the dying minutes when Matt Heywood blatantly handled Basham's ball across the box. But then came the final whistle and the Arsenal draw – and Oxford were not complaining.

Goal: Louis (65) 1-0.

Oxford United (3-5-2): Woodman; Waterman, Crosby, Bound; McNiven, Hunt, Ford (Steele, 88), Savage, Robinson; Basham (Sall, 90), Louis. Substitutes not used: Whitehead (gk), Hackett, Hunter.

Swindon Town (4-3-3): Griemink; Edds (Willis, 73), Reeves, Heywood, Duke (Bampton, 79); Miglioranzi, Hewlett, Jackson; Invincibile, Parkin, Sabin (Young, 87). Substitutes not used: Farr (gk), Halliday.

Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire).

Bookings: Oxford: Robinson, Louis. Swindon: Hewlett, Heywood, Bampton.

Man of the match: Louis

Attendance: 11,645.