A young Oxford United U21s overcame Northampton Town to pick up an impressive 1-0 win yesterday.
It was a very young U’s squad, comprising U18 players and Marselino Ferdinan, that travelled to Moulton College to take on a Northampton side including a number of older players and first-team players looking to get back into the Cobblers squad. Kasway Burton’s second-half goal won the game for United.
The hosts started on the front foot, making use of their physical advantage and keeping the majority of the game in the U’s half. A couple of chances went begging for Northampton, but neither side could break the deadlock.
Some solid defending throughout the first half and resilience from the Yellows meant the game was goalless at the break.
United came out in the second half and were able to start playing their game, opening it up and testing the hosts’ defence. Burton caused all kinds of trouble down the right-hand side, while Louis Griffiths and Ferdinan were linking up nicely down the left.
The opener came in the 70th minute. Ferdinan spread the ball to Burton and he produced a beautiful solo run, taking it past the Northampton defence, before firing it into the net for a crucial 1-0 lead.
The Cobblers tried to fight back, throwing everything at the U’s, but they weren’t able to break down a strong defence, with Ajae Patel in goal providing a formidable obstacle.
This was a really hard-fought win for Oxford in a physical encounter that shows how much this team has come along from the 4-1 loss against Chelmsford City earlier this season.
United: Patel, Mole, Blackmore, Bangurah (Gardner 83), Lacey, Bradney, Burton, Holton, Trialist (Lee 64), Ferdinan (Doyle 90), Griffiths (Snowden 64)
Unused subs: Palmer-Flynn, Abolade, Missanga
Report: Ollie Chevallier
