Oxford United U18s impressed again as they qualified for the round of 16 of the Youth Alliance Cup.
The young U’s travelled to Birmingham on Tuesday for a midweek cup clash against Walsall FC, needing a win by at least two goals to progress to the knockout stages. The U’s found the opener through Kasway Burton from the spot 56 minutes in. The lead was later doubled by Mubarak Abolade to give United the two-goal advantage they needed.
It was a very young side that took to the field for the U’s, with Albie Collins, Woodley Osborne and Riley Dourish being handed their first starts for the U18s, with a few of the more senior players being given a rest.
The first couple of chances fell to the Yellows, but none of which were clear cut enough to worry the Saddlers defence. The sides went into the break at 0-0 after what they would consider a disappointing first 45, with both sides struggling to break down each other’s defence.
The Yellows came out flying in the second half, and 10 minutes in Riley Dourish was brought down in the box after some clever footwork to win an important penalty. Kasway Burton sent the keeper the wrong way and put the U’s 1-0 up.
The Young U’s then made a couple of game-changing substitutes, with the experienced Ibrahim Bangurah and Leo Snowden coming on. It was an instant impact from Snowden, who delivered a peach of a cross to find Abolade at the back post and he had no trouble in slotting it home. The goal made it 2-0 and gave the U’s the goal difference they needed to advance in the competition.
It wasn’t an easy last half an hour for United, as Ajae Patel was brought into action on a number of occasions to keep a well-deserved clean sheet.
The win sends the Young U’s into the round of 16, where they have been drawn away to Stevenage.
United: Patel, Cramond, Osborne, Collins, Lacey (Bangurah 57), Holton, Dourish (Snowden 60), Palmer-Flynn, Burton (Lee 65), Griffiths (Doyle 70), Abolade
Unused sub: Blackmore
