Oxford United U18s left it late as Jack Lee scored a stoppage time goal to give the U’s an important three points away to Sutton United in the Merit League on Saturday.
It took 96 minutes to break the deadlock, thanks to an excellent header from an in-form Lee. The goal was a deserved one as the U’s were knocking on the door, creating many chances in the last 15. The hosts, however, were nowhere near as creative as the Young U’s, not giving Monty Marriott much work to do this weekend.
A slow start in London saw the first 30 minutes without any notable chances as both sides took their time to get it into the game, Sutton considerably longer. The first chance came in the 38th minute from a Harrison Bradney freekick, but was put wide of the target.
The second forty-five was more entertaining, but it was only towards the backend of the game that the U’s creativity started to flow. The U’s controlled the majority of the game, but on a slow dry artificial pitch, chances were hard to come by for both sides.
The last 15 minutes brought the game to life as the U’s were determined to find the breakthrough. Kasway Burton caused all kinds of trouble down the right-hand side but couldn’t find a teammate in the box on both occasions.
Denis Travin then delivered a peach of a ball to substitute Mo Missanga who met the delivery with a good header that was only denied by the crossbar. The ball then fell to Harrison Bradney who forced a decent save from the Sutton goalkeeper.
The game then headed into 6 minutes of stoppage time and a goalless stalemate looked set in stone, however Lee thought otherwise. The U’s won a freekick in the 6th minute of stoppage time and Bradney delivered a ball to the back post which met a rising Lee, who headed the ball into the back of the net and gave the young U’s an important 3 points on the road.
Coach Pablo Haysham said:
“It was important that we got back to winning ways today, last week was a disappointing result and an uncharacteristic performance from us. It wasn’t our best performance today, but I still feel that we deserved that goal in the end and Jack did well to take his chance.
"It was another really young team today which is exciting as it puts us in good stead for the rest of the season and the next."
United
Marriott, Mole, Took-Oxley (C), Holton, Lacey, Bradney, Burton, Abolade (Missanga 66), Lee, Griffiths, Travin
Unused Subs
Blackmore, Duplessis, Dourish
Report by Ollie Chevallier