It was another game full of drama and late goals for Oxford United U18s as they settled for a 3-3 draw against an inform Leyton Orient.
The game was full of goals as the U’s came from behind twice with goals from Leo Snowden and Tobias Brenan from the spot, before an excellent finish from substitute Jack Lee gave them the lead at the death. Leyton Orient then scored an even later goal as injury time broke United’s hearts for the second time this week and meant that both sides had to settle for a draw.
Leyton orient, coming into this game on the back of a 4-0 win against Swindon and a seven-game unbeaten streak, started strongly and kept the U’s in their own half for the majority of the first 45 minutes.
The first of six goals came in the 27th minute as Leyton orient’s Al Sadi finished a cutback that wasn’t dealt with defensively and made it 1-0.
The U’s then started to grow into the game towards the end of the first half as shots from both Harrison Bradney and Aidan Elliott-Wheeler went just wide.
The young U’s were a completely different side in the second half and found an important equalizer in the 51st minute when Bradney stole the ball from the Orient defence and forced a good save from the keeper, who could only parry the ball straight into Snowden’s path as he made it 1-1.
The U’s made a few early changes around the hour mark and the introduction of Lee, Louis Griffiths and Josh Holton really brought the game alive. The game became end to end and led to Orient’s substitute Avgoustidis getting them back in the lead in the 70th minute.
The U’s continued to create chances with Harrison Mole making some very promising runs down the right-hand side.
They then created the best move of the game with some beautiful football resulting in Holton winning a penalty in the 83rd minute. Brenan made it 2-2 with a composed finish into the bottom right corner, giving the keeper no chance.
The U’s then took the lead at the death with a beautiful finish by substitute, Lee who curled the ball into the right corner of the goal, looking like it was going to be the winner. This was quickly cancelled out by an even later goal, when in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Orient’s Pegrum finished a scrappy goal that had deflected off the crossbar and was luckily turned in.
Coach Pablo Haysham said:
“The boys showed great fight once again today and turned the game around excellently after a slow start. Orient are a strong side and they showed their physicality today, but we played some really good football at times, and I thought our substitutes were exceptional in how they impacted the game. It was disappointing not to pick up all three points at the end there, but a good point against an inform side”.
United
Marriot, Mole, Travin, Took-Oxley (C), Lacey, Bradney (Holton 52), Cooper (Blackmore 73), Brenan, Snowden (Lee 58), Elliot-Wheeler (Doyle 66), Burton (Griffiths 58)
Report by Ollie Chevallier