Howard's Way: Striker gets five as Development Side score 12

Howard gets five as United run riot

United’s Development Side scored twelve for the second time this season as they beat Peckham Academy 12-0 in a friendly this afternoon at the Oxford Sports and Social Ground. Brian Howard led the way with five goals, Callum O’Dowda and Jon Meades both bagged a brace while Sam Humphreys, a trialist and Luke Hastings also scored in a comprehensive win.

The opening goal came after 7 minutes when Howard flicked home at the near post and it was 2-0 on 17 when O’Dowda stabbed home a Humphreys pass. It was 3-0 when Howard converted a penalty after he was tripped and 4-0 at the break when O’Dowda  finished calmly after a through ball from strike partner Howard.

The Peckham side faded further after the break as United’s passing and movement proved too much. The elusive  Humphreys stabbed in a fifth from close range before Howard completed his hat-trick from an astute O’Dowda pass.

That was the first of three goals in as many minutes with Howard thumping in the seventh goal on 57 and a trialist making it 8-0 on 58.

Some fine one-touch play on 62 allowed Howard to finish another simple goal after O’Dowda had rounded the keeper and youth team striker Hastings made it 10-0 on 68 when he robbed the keeper.

Meades then capped a fine display in the middle of the park with the last two goals, a fierce drive from a Josh Ashby cross on 71 and a great effort from the edge of the area to make it 12-0 and end the scoring.

United
Crocombe, S.Long, Trialist, Raynes (Cook 46), Brown (Conte 45), Ashby, Meades, Trialist, Howard (Hastings 63), Humphreys, O’Dowda (Diaz-Benitez 70)