Oxford United Women returned to winning ways at league leaders Exeter City on Sunday, scoring three second-half goals without reply. Phoebie Poole struck twice in the space of two minutes to give the U's the lead they deserved, and the scoring was rounded off deep into stoppage time with substitute Adele Lindbaek's first goal for the club.
Exeter, who had won promotion from the FA Women's National League Division One South-West last season without tasting defeat, suffered their first loss in a season and a half, and their first home defeat for 30 games as Oxford dominated the second half.
The first period featured little in the way of goalmouth action as both teams sounded each other out. The closest we came to a goal was in the 20th minute, when Poole kept the ball alive and pulled it back for Zoe Barratt, whose shot came back off the foot of the post.
United came alive after the break, with Barratt in particular causing problems for the Grecians defence on the right. Exeter were just starting to feel their way back into contention when Poole opened the scoring in the 75th minute. Barratt drove down the right touchline, cut inside and found Poole inside the area to steer the ball home past Liv Giles' despairing dive.
Ninety seconds later and the U's were two up. A right-wing corner was knocked goalwards as a deflected header was well saved by Giles. The rebound, however, fell nicely for Poole who scrambled the ball over the line despite pressure from a couple of Grecian defenders.
United held firm to dispel any fears of an Exeter come back and, in the sixth added minute, Lindbaek broke through to shoot home her first United goal and seal the points.
The win takes Oxford up to fourth in the table, one of four teams at the top all on 10 points, with Ipswich climbing above Exeter on goal difference without playing.
United: Howard, Gibson, Wiseman (Lindbaek 89), Creaney, Barratt (Richardson 89), Poole, Gotch, King (Budaieva 74), Oliver, Burridge (Legg 55), Trinder (Sealey 55)
Unused subs: Sercombe, Cook
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photos: Liam Faulkner