An Adam Smith hat-trick allowed Oxford United’s under 18s to beat AFC Bournemouth 3-2 in the Merit League at the Bangkok Glass Training Centre on Saturday.
Smith’s three goals, all before half time, were the highlight of an impressive 90 minutes for the young U’s.
Bournemouth almost took an early lead when an audacious attempt to lob keeper Fraser Barnsley from 30 yards hit the crossbar. However with 30 minutes gone United were handed their first real chance with Smith being played through on goal and under pressure able to slot the ball into the bottom left to put the U’s ahead.
Bournemouth hit back soon after, capitalising on United’s defensive confusion to level up the game but as the first half was drawing to a close, Smith scored another two quick-fire goals, with great assists from Josh Johnson and Elijah Coe, to complete an impressive first half hat-trick.
Early in the second half Bournemouth pulled a goal back with a driven effort from range to put United’s lead under threat but the U’s were able to withstand pressure for a very encouraging win.
United
Barnsley, Sankoh, Giles, Nosakhare, Maxwell, Took-Oxley, Johnson, Tiamuna (Elliott-Wheeler), Coe, Smith, Iheanacho
Subs:
Elliott-Wheeler, Franklin