Oxford United's U18s concluded their pre-season matches with a 1-0 win away at Coventry City as a goal from a trialist separated the sides in a tight game.
The youngsters began the game the brighter side and had opportunities to take the lead. Trialist B had an early chance after a mix up between the Coventry goalkeeper and a centre-half fell to the U’s but the trialist put the ball wide.
Callum Crook had the best opportunity of the half, going through one-on-one after a good ball from Leon Chambers-Parillon. The forward struck the ball well and forced a good save from the Coventry stopper.
United played the ball forward well on the slick surface at the Alan Higgs Centre as the rain fell steadily throughout the match, but they were left ruing missed chances at half time, going into the break failing to break the deadlock.
The youngsters made sure they quick out of the blocks at the start of the second period, grabbing the opener in the first four minutes. Trialist A received the ball in the area and poked the ball beyond the onrushing goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Conditions worsened in the second half as the rain fell heavier but the tempo remained high as the U’s youngsters got their final minutes of pre-season before the league begins.
Coventry pressed for an equaliser but United held strong in defence to see out the win and finish pre-season with a positive result. The U18s begin their league campaign against Plymouth on Friday 2nd August.
UNITED: Evans, Grant (Johnson, 70), Gardner, Chambers-Parillon, Barnett-Grant, Nosakhare, Goodrham, Trialist A (Day, 78), Crook (Edwards, 60), Stevens, Trialist B