Tyrone Marsh on his first senior goal
Oxford United’s run in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy may have come to a disappointing end on Tuesday night, but for one of the club’s younger players the competition brought not only his home debut, but a first professional goal as well.
19-year-old Tyrone Marsh made his first start for United in the quarter-final win at Plymouth and followed that up with a first ever goal in the famous yellow shirt in the semi-final defeat to Southend on Tuesday.
Despite scoring on his first start at the Kassam Stadium, Tyrone told Yellow Player that he was disappointed to see the team get knocked out on penalties.
“Yeah it was gutting. The boys worked so hard to get back in the game and were desperate to get into the next round but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
All of Marsh’s previous appearances for United had come on their travels so the match against Southend was not only his first home start, it was also the first time he’d played competitively at the Kassam Stadium. So when did he know he was starting?
“I got to the training ground today on Tuesday and the gaffer called out the team, and I was in it. I was a bit surprised but I’ve worked hard to get there. I was a bit nervous but I had to do what I had to do.”
If the match itself wasn’t dramatic enough, the whole day for Tyrone took an unexpected turn for the worse on the drive into the stadium.
“If it wasn’t for Peter Leven I wouldn’t have been here. I was coming through Buckingham and our car tyre went, but luckily Pete was there to change it. I’ve never learned to change a tyre so I was lucky he was with me!”
Tom Craddock was also in the car with Tyrone and Peter. Both strikers got on the scoresheet during the match, and Marsh say’s United’s top goalscorer was a calming influence on a nervy night.
“Tommy was talking me through the game. He got me through every single bit of the match, so I also owe a big thanks to him as well.”
So after making his full home debut and scoring his first United goal, what now for Tyrone Marsh?
“Hopefully I want to get on the bench more and make more appearances. That’s my main aim from now on.”
You can watch Tyrone’s moment of glory right now over in Yellow Player