KANE Hemmings came off the bench to score the decisive goal as Oxford United won a thrilling Emirates FA Cup third round tie at Rotherham United.

The striker made it 3-1 to the visitors two minutes from time, but Tom Adeyemi’s near-instant response set up a tense finish.

United had led through Ryan Taylor’s goal at the end of a first half where Chris Maguire had a penalty saved.

Rotherham rallied after Danny Ward’s equaliser just after the break, but the U’s held firm and hit back in the latter stages.

Phil Edwards headed them 2-1 up before the late drama, but it all meant Michael Appleton’s men can look forward to the fourth round for the second season running.

Oxford Mail:

  • Kane Hemmings scores what proved to be the winner from Marvin Johnson's cross

The U’s had conceded just once in three games, but here they could have trailed inside 80 seconds.

Ward was slipped into space in the box, before letting the visitors off the hook by shooting wide from 15 yards.

It was a let-off which saw the unchanged underdogs stir themselves to impress for the rest of the half.

They forged two terrific chances to open the scoring before the game reached the tenth minute.

First, Marvin Johnson came close to a goal of the season contender, only to see his shot tipped over at the end of a surging dribble which began deep in the U’s half.

An even clearer chance then fell to Maguire at the end of a slick move. Taylor’s clever flick sent the top-scorer through, but the Scot missed the target from the edge of the box with only goalkeeper Lewis Price to beat.

The U’s had to keep their wits about them defensively against a side who kept the ball well.

On 26 minutes Johnson had a clearance blocked into Dexter Blackstock’s path. The striker was a late replacement for Peter Odemwingie, who was named in the starting line-up, but Curtis Nelson showed a terrific turn of pace to catch up and block the shot.

United shrugged off a spell of pressure and went on to finish the half strongly.

They were awarded a penalty nine minutes before the break, when Taylor was fouled by Kirk Broadfoot after Edwards did superbly to win the ball.

Maguire stepped up, but saw his spot-kick saved by Price, who dived to his left.

While it was a blow, just four minutes later United did open the scoring.

A move of real quality involving Edwards and Maguire sliced through the Millers and Rob Hall’s square ball was finished first-time by Taylor.

The visitors were good value for their lead, but needed a one-handed save from Simon Eastwood to prevent Adeyemi heading an equaliser in first-half stoppage-time.

Rotherham were booed off by their own fans at the break, but within six minutes of the restart the mood was transformed, when Ward smashed in an equaliser from 15 yards.

The hosts were suddenly a very different proposition and carried far more of a goal threat.

Ward skimmed Eastwood’s crossbar from the edge of the box, while Will Vaulks’s low thunderbolt struck the U’s goalkeeper’s left-hand upright.

Eastwood then came up with a vital save to block Ward’s ferocious left-footed shot after the striker had held off Chey Dunkley.

United had worked hard and ridden their luck, but eventually they weathered the storm.

Liam Sercombe lifted the visitors, remarkably coming on as a substitute just eight weeks after he was stretchered off with a knee injury.

The U’s pushed again and 11 minutes from time Price had to make a one-handed stop to deny Ryan Ledson’s dipping volley.

The ball went for a corner, from which Alex MacDonald's quality delivery picked out Edwards all alone in the six-yard box to head into the net in front of a packed away end.

If that sent the fans crazy, the roof was lifted off in the 88th minute.

Despite having a lead to protect, United’s remained ambitious and Johnson appeared in space on the left to swing in a low cross smashed in by Hemmings.

That appeared to finish the job for the visitors, but within 60 seconds Adeyemi headed in Forde’s centre to reduce the arrears.

There was still four minutes of stoppage-time to negotiate.

Several crosses led to nervy moments, but Hemmings only just failed to make it 4-2 from what would have been a carbon copy of his goal when Johnson crossed.

Fortunately it did not prove costly, as the visitors held on to book their place in Monday’s fourth round draw.

Rotherham Utd: Price, Fisher, Broadfoot, Wood, Mattock, Forde, Adeyemi, Vaulks, Newell, Blackstock (Yates 53), Ward.

Unused subs: McMahon, Kelly, Taylor, Wilson, Odemwingie, Belaid.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Johnson, MacDonald, Lundstram, Ledson, Hall (Sercombe 74), Maguire (Rothwell 81), Taylor (Hemmings 81).

Unused subs: Buchel, Raglan, Skarz, Ruffels.

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).

Attendance: 5,618 (1,292 visitors).