Oxford United's under-18s extended their winning streak in the Youth Alliance League to 12 consecutive games with a 3-1 win away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
Mubarak Abolade scored a first-half brace, either side of Cheltenham's equaliser, and Leo Snowden added a third in the second half to seal the victory.
The U's were riding high on confidence following last week's 6-0 win at Swindon Town, and it took just seven minutes for Abolade to open the scoring. Snowden's run took him to the byline and his low driven cross found Abolade at the far post. He took one touch to get the ball under control before netting from close range.
It could have been 2-0 eight minutes later, but Snowden's shot came back off the post. The Robins used this let off to good advantage, grabbing an equaliser in the 36th minute.
Unfazed, Oxford again took the initiative. Josh Holton stole the ball midway in the Cheltenham half and fed Abolade. The winger still had plenty of work to do, but he took the ball along the edge of the area before finding space to shoot into the far corner and restore United's lead.
Credit to the home side, who limited chances for the Yellows in the second half and who could have scored a second equaliser with ten minutes remaining but for an excellent tackle from Charlie Cramond to prevent a one-on-one chance.
Oxford finally put the game to bed in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time. Jack Lee got behind the home defence and put in a pinpoint cross to allow Snowden a tap-in at the back post.
With Luton Town winning 4-3 at Bromley, United remain second in the table, just one point behind the Hatters but with a game in hand.
UNITED: Patel, Palmer-Flynn, Blackmore, Gardner, Cramond, Doyle, Abolade, Holton, Lee, Missanga (Bradney 60), Snowden
Unused subs: Collins, Osborne, Appiah, Dourish
