Oxford United were knocked out of Youth Alliance League Cup semi-final at the Bangkok Glass Training Centre after being defeated on penalties following a goalless draw against Bromley.
A tough game between two strong sides couldn’t be decided after 90 minutes. The U’s, the better of the two during the 90, came close on a few occasions, but uncharacteristically struggled to really test the Bromley keeper. The game went to penalties, with Bromley winning 5-4 and booking themselves a spot in the final.
A strong United eleven took to the field in sunny Oxfordshire on Tuesday, with Aaron Lacey returning to the side and given the captain's armband.
The U’s thought they had an early lead through the skipper, but he was deemed to be offside. They started on the front foot, piling pressure on the visitors, with Louis Griffiths on the right causing all kind of trouble for the Bromley fullback, but couldn’t find any end product.
Bromley started to get into the game, but as the first 45 passed, Ajae Patel hadn’t really had much to do in the Oxford goal.
A crucial bit of defending from Charlie Cramond kept the game goalless as it approached the hour mark. There were a couple of chances for Leo Snowden down the left that we’ve come so used to seeing him smash into the back of the net, but on this occasion they either went over or just wide, with the best chance coming in the 82nd minute after some clever work from Griffiths, however Snowden’s effort went just wide.
A chance then came in injury time for Lacey, who tried to bundle the ball over the line. It was agonizingly close but went just over the bar.
In the third of four minutes of stoppage time, Jack Lee managed to get on the end of a dangerous cross, coming so close to a dramatic winner, but Bromley managed to get a body behind it on the goal line, meaning the game would go to penalties.
Both sides netted their first four, although not without some controversy. Patel made a big diving save to his left, before getting penalized for being off his line with Bromley scoring from the retake. Bromley scored their first five spot kicks, but unfortunately the U’s did not follow suit and Jameson Blackmore’s effort was well saved by the Bromley keeper.
A disappointing defeat after a good cup run from Oxford, who now turn focus back to the league with a crucial game away at Gillingham this weekend.
UNITED: Patel, Palmer-Flynn, Blackmore, Cramond, Lacey, Doyle, Griffiths, Bradney, Lee, Holton (Missanga 60), Snowden
Unused subs: Gardner, Collins, Abolade, Dourish
Report: Ollie Chevallier
