Oxford United Women progressed to the next round of the League Cup after beating AFC Bournemouth Women on penalties this afternoon
The game ended in a goalless draw after 90 minutes but United stood firm and won 5-3 on penalties.
Bournemouth started the better side, pressing with lots of energy and forcing United into early mistakes. In the 8th minute Molly Clark fired a free kick just over the bar for the home side but the U’s grew into the game and started to move the ball around better. In the 10th minute, Jess Gray did excellently down the right and found Carly Johns, whose effort resulted in a scramble in the box which Bournemouth managed to desperately clear.
23 minutes in Johns broke Bournemouth’s line and took the ball round the keeper but was forced wide. Her pass found Erin Hartigan but Bournemouth did very well to stop the ball from crossing the line. Just after, Rose Kite made a big save to her left to keep the game level.
Oxford started to dominate and had a number of good chances towards the end of the first 45, but couldn’t find the breakthrough. 0-0 at halftime.
Bournemouth came out strong, causing United a number of problems. In the 52nd minute, Kite made a huge double save as Lucy Cooper latched on to a defensive mistake. Oxford’s keeper came out and stood big to keep Bournemouth out in a huge moment in the game.
Minutes later, Riva Casley, captaining the side while Lauren Haynes was rested, rose at the back post and looped her header onto the top of the crossbar.
Bournemouth are top of Division One South West, and it became evident why. They defended well, worked hard and always looked dangerous going forward. It was a tense final 15, and the game went into extra time.
There were no real chances in the extra 30, both teams look tired and struggled to find any rhythm. The best fell to Cole from an Oxford corner, who volleyed into the grateful hands of Scadding.
The game ended scoreless and went into a penalty shootout.
Johns, Burridge, Casley and Cole all scored for United before Rose Kite made a penalty save.
She was adjudged to be off her line but then made a second save. Chez Williams then stepped up to win the game for United.
A rollercoaster of a game ended in United progressing on penalties 5-3.
UNITED
Kite, Gray, Gotch (Baker 68), Casley, Provan, Cole, Stevens, Burridge, King (Williams 120), Hartigan (Harris 113), Johns
Report by Billy Lawrence, pictures Darrell Fisher