A goal in just 12.04 seconds from Callum Crook and a double from Fabio Lopes saw Oxford United under 18s beat local rivals Swindon Town 3-1 in the League Cup this afternoon at the training ground.
The U's got off to a blistering start with a goal straight from kick off. Tyler Goodrham did well to win possession after a long ball from Nico Jones and beat his marker on the wing before sending in a terrific delivery to Crook who headed excellently beyond the Swindon goalkeeper.
The good start didn’t stop there for the U’s. The lively Goodrham had a chance to double the U’s advantage on three minutes as he wriggled into the area but his shot was saved. The U’s didn’t have to wait long for their second of the game though. Fabio Lopes received the ball in the area and buried his shot on the turn into the bottom corner to put United firmly in control.
United looked bright, with Nico Jones bringing the ball out well from defence and linking up with midfielders Jack Stevens and Fabio Sole. Swindon brought the ball forward occasionally and fired a warning shot at the U’s when a flicked header found the back of the net but was ruled offside.
In a frantic opening 15 minutes Swindon did grab a goal back on 15 minutes. The forward drifted in from wide left and fired a good strike into the top corner to half the defecit.
The game settled slightly from there on in but the U’s looked sharp on the counter-attack. Goodrham caused problems on the wing and almost created United’s third of the afternoon as he picked out Stevens in the area. The midfielder had men around him in the area and his shot was deflected behind.
Going in at the break 2-1 ahead United remained in control of the game and looked comfortable against their Swindon counterparts and the U’s mirrored their excellent start to the first half with a goal within a minute in the second period.
Lopes received the ball wide left and showed excellent composure one-on-one with the onrushing Swindon goalkeeper to place the ball underneath him and into the bottom corner. United had their tails up and played with freedom from there on in.
Stevens hit the bar direct from a corner before Jones picked out Goodrham with an excellent diagonal pass. The ball found its way to Stevens whose strike flashed across goal, inches away from Crook who just couldn’t make contact.
Chambers-Parillon came off with a knock ten minutes from time but United continued their passing game as the game edged towards full time.
Swindon pushed to get back in the game but United were untroubled as Viktor Milton came through his first 90 minutes in nine months and United were happy to hit their opponents on the counterattack as the U's saw the game out very well.
A fantastic performance from the youngsters which sets them up well for a tough test back in the league on Saturday against AFC Bournemouth at Northcourt Road
UNITED: Evans, Grant, Milton, Jones, Elechi, Sole, Stevens, Chambers-Parillon (Johnson), Goodrham, Crook (Gardner), Lopes
Unused Subs: Niemczycki, Edwards, Barnett-Grant,
Report by Liam Potter