Oxford United ended 2022 on the up with an important 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic at the Kassam Stadium this evening.
Having opened up a 2-0 lead at half time through goals from Billy Bodin and Matty Taylor, United were caused a few anxious moments when Miles Leaburn pulled a goal back just after the hour mark before Gatlin O'Donkor poked home a third goal to seal all three points for the home side.
There was almost an early lead when a trademark Cameron Brannagan free kick came back off the bar after 12 minutes, but with Josh Murphy beating men at will on either wing, United dominated the first half and a goal was always on the cards.
The first came after 20 minutes and the outstanding Murphy was the inevitable provider, finding enough space on the right to whip a superb ball across the face of goal and pick out the unmarked Bodin to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
Four minutes later and Taylor doubled the lead, or at least made a conversation with Bodin necessary! Bodin was very much the provider, smashing a drive goalwards that hit Taylor en route and flew past the wrong-footed Ashley Maynard-Brewer to make it 2-0. Taylor's goal even if Bodin's drive was on target.
Some of the football was very easy on the eye and Charlton’s New Manager Bounce had gone decidedly flat as the U’s dominated all areas of the pitch. Man-of-the-Match Lewis Bate, back in the side after illness, blasted two shots well over the bar either side of half time and all was looking set fair.
However, a triple substitution at the break gave the visitors fresh legs and it needed some stout defending from central defenders Elliott Moore and Sam Long to keep the Addicks at arms length until the 66th minute, when Daniel Kanu powered down the left and crossed and sub Leaburn twisted to head past McGinty to make it 2-1.
The same player should have levelled soon after, but McGinty got a vital touch to his shot from close range to preserve the lead. But having ridden their luck at times, United killed the game off with eight minutes left when sub Yanic Widschut fired at goal and the ball squirmed slowly under the keeper for O'Donkor to finish the job with his first touch after coming off the bench.
Three goals, three points and the perfect end to the year. Let's see if we can kick off 2023 in the same fashion when we welcome Exeter City to the Kassam Stadium on New Year's Day.
Att: 8,889
Away: 991
Fifty/50 winning number 56352 wins £763.50
Report by Chris Williams, pictures by Steve Daniels and Steve Edmunds, stats by OPTA