Oxford United's under 18s safely made it through to the third round of the FA Youth Cup tonight with a 3-1 win over Horndean at Court Place Farm
As expected, the lower league visitors were full of energy and determined to show what they could do against Football League opposition and that made for a very close game but second half strikes from birthday boy Kasway Burton, fellow under 16s forward Harrison Bradney and an injury time third from Enrique Tiamuna saw the U's through despite a consolation goal from Ethan Kent for the visitors.
There were early chances for Tiamuna, playing as a centre forward, and defender Erion Zabeli plus some enterprising work from Aidan Elliott-Wheeler whose pace troubled the visitors all night but it wasn’t until the 49th minute that the U’s forced keeper Logan O’Donnell into his first save as he pushed away an Elliott-Wheeler effort.
Horndean replied with their own first effort on target, Fraser Barnsley needing to be alert to tip a dipping effort on to the bar, but on 63 United were ahead when Elliott-Wheeler again let fly and Burton pounced to fire home after O'Donnell had pushed the first effort his way. A great way to celebrate your 16th birthday.
The lead only lasted for four minutes before a clever pass down the left saw the ball smuggled back for Kent who turned smartly to beat Barnsley with a low drive inside the left-hand post but United showed great character as Bradney immediately weaved his way past four defenders and fired high into the net to restore the lead with a superb goal.
Now we had a proper cup tie as the Hampshire side threw caution to the wind, and that mean serious hard work for the back line who stood up to the task superbly.
Deep into injury time, with keeper O'Donnell inside United's box for a corner, the U's cleared and Tiamuna won the foot race to carry the ball two thirds of the length of the pitch and roll home their third to finally end Horndean's resistance.
Hard work, and credit to Horndean who gave it absolutely everything they had, but the U's had been professional, taken their chances, and now go on to play Exeter City away in the third round.
United
Barnsley, Sankoh, Franklin, Zabeli, Gerrard, Burton, Took-Oxley, Brenan, Elliott-Wheeler, Bradney, Tiamuna
Subs
Maxwell, Fowler, Iheanacho, Mole, Lacey, Groom
Att: 137
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds
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