United go down 2-0 to Millwall Lionesses
Goals from Cherelle Albert and Emma Plewa sent United crashing to a 2-0 defeat to Millwall Lionesses at the Den. The U's were dominant for much of the match but again were unable to find the net and they paid dearly as Millwall struck twice against the run of play.United named an unchanged lineup from the side which were beaten by Notts County last week and they started in similar fashion as the home side applied some early pressure. The game was still in its opening minute when Lionesses striker Cherelle Albert struck the bar with a fierce effort from just inside the area.
But it didn't take the U's long to settle and soon they were carving out chances of their own, with the pacy duo of Laura Low and Lauren Allison combining well to cause the home defence plenty of problems. Low seized on a poor ball from Sophie Perry inside the Millwall area, but her shot was blocked. And Holly Pickett did well to control a crossfield pass, before drawing a smart save from goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill.
United goalkeeper Hannah Cox also had to be on her toes to maintain parity, making an excellent double save to first stop Albert's shot and then deny Dionne Lennon on the rebound.
The U's were stroking the ball around beautifully and began to dominate possession, but it was the hosts who took the lead against the run of play just before the half when Cherelle Albert fired into the top corner from just outside the box.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Oxford on the front foot while Millwall defended in numbers. Lauren Allison came inches away from pulling United level, turning and then shooting brilliantly only to see her effort come back off the post and into the grateful arms of the goalkeeper.
Kayleigh Hines was foiled by a superb save at full stretch from Quantrill after she had risen to head Connor-Iommi's well-taken corner. But despite piling on the pressure throughout, again United were just unable to find the net and their hopes were killed deep into injury time when substitute Emma Plewa lobbed Cox from a tight angle to put the result beyond doubt.
United: Cox, Hines, Osborne-Ricketts, Chivers, Allison, Pickett (Nichol 77), King, Nutman, Connor-Iommi, Lane, Low (Lowder 77). Subs not used: Lambourne, Mobbs, Pinker.
Attendance: 278