Oxford United’s under 18s went top of the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League with a fine 2-1 win away at Exeter City on Saturday.
Two early goals from Kyran Lofthouse saw the U’s pick up another three points with a very solid team performance that pleased coach Leon Blackmore-Such who told us:
“We left early for this one but it’s all part of it and we started really well and had around 80% of the possession in the early stages and scored early when we had a 30 pass passage and then Ryan Crooks did a little bit of magic and set Jack Stevens in. His ball was touched by Leon Chambers-Parillon and broke to Kyran Lofthouse who smashed it in for the opener.
“Then we made it 2-0 when Kyran was pushed in the back as he came in for a cross and he picked himself up to score the penalty. The game pattern stayed the same and we had a lot of the ball, still trying to create but 2-0 up. Exeter changed their shape and pressed us higher up and we didn’t adjust too quickly and that let Exeter grow into the game.
“We conceded a sloppy set piece goal where Max Harris made a good save but they put the rebound in and so we end up only 2-1 up at the break when it should have been more comfortable. That’s something we do need to work on.
“Exeter had more possession in the second half but we had a couple of moments where Leon and Jack should have scored as well and it stayed at 2-1 and you have to take that and what we had done early in the game had deserved the win. It was a good performance and they gave it their all and the lads are stepping up at the moment and it is fantastic to be top of the table.”
See the goals and hear Leon’s thoughts in the FREEVIEW iFollow interview above.
The under 18s look to continue their superb season with another good performance when they welcome Luton Town to Northcourt Road Abingdon on Saturday. Kick off is at 11am and there is free admission to watch the game.
United
Harris, Sampford, Trialist, Niblett, Trialist, McCreadie (Edwards), Chambers-Parillon, Goodrham (Ferguson), Lofthouse, Stevens, Crooks