Oxford United got pre-season off to a winning start with a 4-0 win over Woking at the Training Ground this evening. First half goals from Mark Sykes and Derick Osei Yaw were followed up by second half strikes from Matty Taylor and Josh Ruffels as Karl Robinson’s new look squad all got a run out.
There were starts for both Osei Yaw, on the left before moving inside, and Liam Kelly who had signed earlier in the day plus Sean Clare who showed an early willingness to get forward from right back.
All of the squad got valuable game time other than Jamie Hanson, not risked due to a minor calf strain, with Kelly, Malachi Napa, Dylan Asonganyi and Elliot Moore eased into action but everyone else changing at half time.
The first chance came for Nico Jones who was unable to guide his header on target as the ball swirled towards him in a fierce wind blowing across the excellent pitch. However on 28 minutes Sykes put the U’s in front with a close range finish after the impressive Rob Hall had worked the ball in to him from the right.
Ten minutes later and the U’s were 2-0 up when Sykes weaved his way past three defenders and unselfishly squared the ball for Osei Yaw to slot past the exposed Cards keeper from ten yards out.
The third came after 66 minutes when Taylor did what Taylor does, powering home an Anthony Forde corner from the edge of the six yard box and Ruffels finished it off with another close range effort after the excellent Joel Cooper had once again opened up the Cards defence.
A good start and United are up and running
United (first half)
Stevens, Clare, Dickie, Mousinho, Jones, Hall, Henry, Kelly (Asonganyi 30), Sykes, Osei Yaw, Agyei
Second Half
Eastwood, Long, Moore (Napa 75), Atkinson, Ruffels, Forde, Gorrin, Brannagan, Cooper, McGuane, Taylor
Report Chris Williams, pictures Darrell Fisher and Steve Daniels