Hat trick Hoban as U's win Development game
Patrick Hoban struck a hat trick this afternoon as an Oxford United Development side won 3-1 at Aston Villa.Michael Appleton told us:
"It was a very competitive game, a proper test and plenty of tough challenges so it was a great game for us. We started sluggishly and should really have been two or three down in the first 20 minutes but we weathered the storm and started to create opportunities.
"We took the lead when AJ George played a reverse pass for Sam Humphreys who set up Pat to make it 1-0. We then started the second half really well and made two or three good chances, but having not taken them Villa hit us on the break to equalise at 1-1.
"It was an even game for a while, end to end, but then we finished the stronger of the two teams. Sam Humphreys was brought down and Pat made it 2-1 from the penalty spot and then with five minutes to go a great ball from Josh Ruffels gave Pat a chance to get in behind the defence. There was still a lot to do but he held off a challenge and finished well to complete his hat trick and give us a 3-1 win.
"Villa had a decent side out but you couldn't fault the attitude from our lads and full credit to everyone involved."
United
Stevens, Hawtin, Cundy, Dunkley, Trialist, Humphreys, Ashby (Hayden 80), Ruffels, MacDonald (Giles 70, Hoban, George