O'Dowda on the mark as youthful U's draw
A youthful Oxford United side drew 1-1 at Truro City tonight in the final pre-season game of 2013 Callum O’Dowda grabbed United’s goal in the first half as The U’s drew with the Cornish side in an entertaining game.
O’Dowda opened the scoring on 40 minutes when Josh Ruffels’ free kick from the edge of the box was parried into the winger’s path but United were pegged back on 57 when the home side’s Cody Cooke fired home from 20 yards past the helpless Max Crocombe.
Crocombe made a superb save soon after to keep it at 1-1 but the back four of Matt Bevans, Kenzer Lee, Marvin Ekpiteta and David Lynn looked solid in front of the Kiwi keeper, with Josh Shama making his return from injury in midfield alongside Josh Ashby and Ruffels. Trialist Dylan McGlade was given a chance while Tyrone Marsh and O’Dowda looked lively up front.
United might have nicked it right at the end when sub Aiden Hawtin was only denied by a great save by the home keeper but a draw was probably a fair result in a well contested game played in excellent spirit.
Full reaction to follow.
United
Crocombe, Bevans, Lynn, Ashby, Ekpiteta, Lee, McGlade (trialist), Ruffels, Marsh, Shama (Roberts 75), O'Dowda (Hawtin 67)
Subs not used: Martin, George, Kavanagh