Oxford United Women suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat away at Crawley Wasps in the National League on Sunday. United bossed large spells of the match but were undone on the counterattack in the second half.
Boss Liam Gilbert started the same side that put pay to Bridgwater’s unbeaten start to the season in impressive fashion last week and United created plenty of chances in the first half but were unable to make the breakthrough.
Just three minutes in Beth Lumsden had a great chance well saved following a flick on from Carly Johns. Next Johns went close, managing to squeeze the ball past the keeper, but a Wasps defender scrambled back to clear off the line and Sophie Baker’s follow up was saved.
Twenty minutes in it was Daisy McLachlan’s turn to test the keeper after the ball fell to her at the back post. Johns then saw a shot flash wide meaning the teams went in goalless at the break.
In the second half there was more United pressure. Cat Beaver went close to heading home a Lauren Haynes corner. And moments later Haynes was back in her own box with some great defensive work to keep the scores level.
However Crawley won the game twenty minutes from time when Emma Plewa burst into the penalty area and finished past Rose Kite in the United goal.
United did continue to put pressure on their hosts as the clock ticked down but were unable to find an equaliser.
Liam Gilbert’s side are back on the road in midweek when they travel to Hounslow on Wednesday befiore a big game at home to Swindon in the cup on Sunday.
OUWFC TEAM: Kite, Alexander(King 86), Beaver, Casley, Wallace (MacKenzie 76), Haynes, Stevens (Panting 63), Baker, McLachlan, Johns, Lumsden.
Subs: Childerhouse, Ackerman.