Sam Long and Albie Hopkins were on the mark as a youthful Oxford United Development side beat Exeter City under 23s 3-1 in a friendly this afternoon.
Long, whose loan spell at Hampton and Richmond ended at the weekend, capped an impressive display with a header from a Josh Ashby corner to end the scoring for a United side that included four trialists as the watching Karl Robinson looked at a few options.
The opening goal came when Hopkins, top scorer for the youth team this season and offered a pro contract, cracked home a fine finish from the edge of the box after half an hour and it was 2-0 soon after when one of the trialists curled home an equally impressive goal from similar range.
Exeter were kept at bay by keeper Niall Clayton who made two outstanding saves, and when he was beaten Matt Berry-Hargreaves was on the line to clear the danger shortly before the break.
In the second half Clayton made another great stop but was powerless on 74 when a shot from distance crashed in just under the bar, but on 78 Long powered past his man to nod home a perfect delivery from Ashby and cap a good day for the U’s.
United
Clayton, Trialist, Long, Berry-Hargreaves, Trialist, Carroll, Trialist (Cowan 85), Ashby, Trialist (Stevens 78), Hopkins (Crooks 78), James (Lofthouse 78)