Oxford United U18s left it late to grab their 15th win in a row in a tense battle with Stevenage at the Oxford United training ground on Saturday, thanks to Jack Lee's 21st league goal of the season to win 1-0.
United made just one change to the side that beat Gillingham last weekend, as Mubarak Abolade came in for Mo Missanga.
The visitors nearly starting with a bang, creating a big early chance that was squandered. Stevenage continued on the front foot but couldn’t get past a resilient Charlie Cramond, who was flying into everything, putting his body on the line.
The first chance for United came 20 minutes in from Abolade, who met a dangerous Louis Griffiths cross with a powerful header that was gathered easily by the Stevenage keeper.
The first half came to an end goalless, after a very even and tense 45 minutes between the sides.
A strong start to the second half gave the U’s a couple of opportunities, thanks to some clever footwork from Callum Palmer-Flynn and a threatening freekick from Josh Holton. However, both chances came to nothing.
The best chance came on the hour as Holton attempted an audacious attempt that was denied only by the crossbar.
Both sides continued to be strong defensively, limiting chances from both ends, until Lee came up with the goods in the 83rd minute to score a massive goal for the U’s. Leo Snowden put in a dangerous cross that Lee was able to bundle over the line to grab a late lead.
This was a big three points to make it 15 league wins in a row, keeping the U’s top of the league on points per game, with three games left of the season.
UNITED: Patel, Palmer-Flynn, Blackmore, Gardner, Cramond, Doyle, Abolade (Missanga 63), Holton (Bradney 69), Lee, Griffiths, Snowden
Unused subs: Collins, Griffith, Dourish
Report: Ollie Chevallier
