Oxford United U18s made it 14 league wins in a row with a massive three points in Gillingham on Saturday.
United won 4-1 thanks to a brace from Jack Lee. The Gills pulled one back midway through the second period to make it 2-1 before goals from substitute Mubarak Abolade and a free kick from Jamseon Blackmore completed the scoring.
Ajae Patel led a strong side, with Louis Griffiths returning to the team and Mo Missanga starting out wide.
It was a bright start for United in sunny conditions on the coast. Lee continued his excellent form in front of goal, making it eight goals in his last five league games with a top-class finish. Josh Holton and Lee broke down the Gillingham defence with a well-executed one-two before Lee struck the ball into the top corner for an early lead.
The strong start continued for the U’s, who were displaying some beautiful football, not letting the Gills get a foot into the game.
Chances came and went for United, who probably deserved a second going into the break, but had to settle for a one goal advantage at half time.
Their hard work in the first half earned them an early second just four minutes into the second half, once again from Lee. Leo Snowden split the defence to find Holton, who took a touch and then delivered a ridiculous cross with the outside of his foot; the trivella found Lee at the back post with a free header to make it 2-0.
A couple more chances fell to United, with the best going to Snowden who had a chance to put the game to bed, but was denied by a strong save from the Gillingham keeper.
The Gills got one back out of nowhere in the 72nd minute. A routine pass back to Patel was turned into a messy goal for the hosts. Patel, who had been so good all game, took too long on the ball and was tackled by the Gillingham forward to get them back into the game.
The U’s, looking to restore their two-goal cushion, found opportunities but struggled to put the game to bed.
The hosts came close to an equalizer but were blocked by a crucial bit of defending from Harley Gardner.
Abolade then produced an instant impact from the bench, scoring just ten minutes after coming on. The winger latched onto a misplaced pass and put the game to bed with a tidy finish past the keeper.
Blackmore put the cherry on top for the U’s, putting his freekick into the top corner to get his first goal for the U18s and make it a dominating 4-1 victory for United.
The win keeps them at the top of the league on points per game, with just four league games left of the season.
UNITED: Patel, Palmer-Flynn, Blackmore, Gardner, Cramond, Doyle, Missanga (Abolade 79), Holton (Bradney 81), Lee, Griffiths, Snowden
Unused subs: Collins, Griffith, Dourish
Report: Ollie Chevallier
