Hartley scores twice as United's under-18s come from behind to win
Cheltenham Town 1 Oxford United 3
Saturday 5th November
United’s youth team secured an excellent win at Cheltenham two weeks ago. Coach Leon Blackmore-Such tells us what happened:
We started the game well enough but it was a tight game and Cheltenham went ahead 1-0 which was a wake-up call. We were pleased with the way the lads responded and were level before half time when good work from Ben Chilcott gave him an overlap and he crossed well for Joe Hartley, who headed home to make it 1-1 at the break.
Cheltenham had a few chances and we had a few at the other end and it continued to be really close after the break. We just needed to be better with the ball, especially in possession when we were trying to build attacks. We said that to them at the break: make sure we work hard and don’t get beaten away from home, the usual reinforcements and game procedures.
We broke down the left again, and Ben did really well again, crossing for Joe to head his second goal to make it 2-1 and give us a little bit of control over the game. We were moving the ball really well and Canice
Carroll was controlling the middle of the park, where he was playing in midfield. He was very effective in there, along with Malachi Napa, and they linked up well and helped set up a number of attacking moments for us.
The last goal came when Malachi made a great run, Joe Hartley threaded him in and he put a great ball across the box for Albie Hopkins to meet at the back post and volley home. From there we looked pretty much in control and maintained good possession.
Dejon Noel-Williams made the keeper make a save and Graham Bryan came off the bench and hit the crossbar, so it could have been a few more but we were happy with the boys and they did well, especially in the second half when they seemed to have grasped all the things we have been saying recently.
United: Clayton, Berry-Hargreaves, McDonnell, Hawtin, Chilcott (Carr), Carroll, Heap (Baker), Hartley, Hopkins (Bryan), Napa, Noel-Williams