Full time report from the Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final
United went out of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup on penalties at Kidlington tonight. After 90 minutes and extra time failed to produce a goal United were beaten 4-3 on penalties.
United gave their younger players a chance with Max Crocombe in goal behind a back four of Matt Bevans, Sam Long, Freddie Grant and Dave Lynn. In midfield Sean Rigg played wide on the right of a predominantly left-sided quartet with Jon Meades, Danny Rose and Callum O’Dowda inside him, while up front Ty Marsh and Josh Shama teamed up in a pacey front two.
The U’s had the better chances in the first half against a hard-working Kidlington side. Meades thumped a header over the bar from a corner, Shama blazed over after a neat passing move instigated by Rose, Marsh fired wide and then saw a left-footed shot pushed round the post as The U’s looked for a lead at half time.
However after the break Kidlington enjoyed an excellent spell which forced Crocombe into a decent save from a dipping volley from Lewis Coyle before Lewis Brownhill fired two well-struck efforts either side of the posts.
With tackles flying in it was competitive stuff. Marsh saw a 25 yard free kick well saved by home keeper Matt Hyslop, Shama was denied by a fine last-minute tackle before a Marsh header was cleared off the line as the game went into extra time.
The extra half hour brought some solid defending from both sides but few clear chances. The first 15 minutes saw a Rose free kick saved comfortably before the same player's low shot in the 8th minute of the second half flashed just wide via a deflection.
And so to penalties. Rose fired over, Shama scored, Marsh struck the post, O'Dowda scored, Bevans scored but Brownhill kept his nerve to beat Crocombe and set up a final against either Oxford City or Ardley.
United
Crocombe, Bevans, Long, Grant, Lynn, Rigg (Hackett 110), Meades, Rose, O’Dowda, Marsh, Shama