Oxford United’s under 18s moved clear at the top of Merit League 1 with a 2-0 win away at Stevenage on Friday night.
With closest rivals Southend having their game postponed until Wednesday United kept the pressure up with a fine win thanks to two early goals from central defenders Nico Jones and Freddie Niblett, both from set-pieces.
Coach Leon Blackmore-Such told us:
“It was good experience to play on a Friday night and good to have Karl Robinson there to keep an eye on the lads before the first team game at Walsall on Saturday. We took the lead in the third minute through Nico and then after about 11 were 2-0 up from Freddie Niblett’s goal.
"We might have scored a few more but credit to Stevenage who came at us in the second half, as we knew they would. We defended that well and kept our shape to make sure we got another good win. We were very pleased with the lads and now we have three big games left, starting at home to Yeovil on Saturday morning.”
United
Harris, Trialist, Niblett, Jones, Sampford, Lopes, Chambers-Parillon, Lofthouse (Crook 90), Goodrham (Ferguson 70), James (Edwards 60), Stevens (Gardner 80)