Cup exit leaves Oxford in bits
eventually in vain. “We have to accept the result, but it is so tough because we have had players in tears,” said Jones.
“How we are going to get the players over this I don’t know because to get so close is heartbreaking. It wasn’t even a late goal, it was right at the very death.
“The players have to take huge encouragement and somehow bounce back. I thought we were fantastic.”
Relieved Magpies boss Kevin Nolan said: “A lot of things were different to how they normally are for this game and I think that showed.
“I thought Oxford City were fantastic and, if I was their manager now, I would be very disappointed.
“We were nowhere near our best and I would have taken a replay with five minutes to go because Oxford seemed to be getting stronger as the game went on.” KEITH CURLE felt Carlisle deserved their place in the FA Cup third-round draw.
Luke O’Neill’s free-kick put Gillingham ahead, before Danny Grainger equalised from the penalty spot.
Carlisle boss Curle said: “We’re in the hat for the big draw and that’s all we wanted really. I thought we fully deserved to get a second chance.
“We’ll have to see what that presents us with, but before the next cup game there are important league fixtures to prepare for.”
Gillingham boss Steve Lovell added: “We can’t complain that we didn’t have the opportunities.” ROBBIE NEILSON praised his calm MK Dons players after they avoided an upset against Maidstone.
Magnus Okuonghae gave the non-league side a shock lead in the first half.
However, Aidan Nesbitt brought MK Dons level, before Kieran Agard’s double and Peter Pawlett completed the comeback.
“We told the team at halftime to keep calm,” said Dons boss Neilson.
“Once we got the first and second goals we were very comfortable.”
Maidstone manager Jay Saunders said: “We weren’t able to see out that first 15 minutes of the second half.”