An impressive performance from Oxford United Women saw them beat Spurs U21 4-0 at Court Place Farm this evening in a pre-season friendly.
The U's dominated much of the 90 minutes against the young Spurs and a Daisy McLachlan penalty before the break and second half strikes from Sophie Baker, Cat Beaver and Carly Johns eased them to a confidence-boosting win.
On a splendid summer evening at the newly renamed Velocity Stadium the U’s took the lead after ten minutes when the excellent Lily Stevens was tripped in the box, losing her boot in the challenge, and McLachlan rolled the ball casually past static Spurs keeper Alice Russell.
Baker almost doubled the lead before the break when sub Johns showed terrific skills to beat two defenders and cut the ball back, only for the Spurs keeper to smother her shot from close range. McLachlan then bent a good effort just wide and United had been on the front foot for much of the opening half.
That was converted into goals after the break when Baker doubled the lead in the first minute, stabbing home after Russell had parried a shot into her path and then Beaver powerfully headed home a third from an inswinging corner after 51 minutes.
Keeper Rose Kite was swiftly off her line to clear a couple of breaks from the Spurs attack but was otherwise able to relax and enjoy the performances of those in front of her as they kept their shape despite a number of substitutions.
Johns capped a good night's work when she made it 4-0 on 75 with the goal she deserved for an outstanding performance, dancing through the overworked defence and finishing with style across the bewildered keeper.
A crowd of over 200, excellent for a friendly, went home fully entertained and based on this performance (and Sunday at Wembley) there are exciting times ahead for women's football globally, nationally, and locally.
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UNITED
Kite, King (French), Trialist (Provan), Beaver (Trialist), Gotch (Casley), Alexander, Haynes, Burridge, Stevens (Johns 30), McLachlan (Trialist), Baker (Hayes)
Att: 218
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Darrell Fisher
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