A tough day at the office for the U18s this weekend as they were outplayed by a good AFC Wimbledon side. Both sides came into the contest in decent form and looking to climb up the table, however the visitors blew the yellows away.
There were four changes to the side that took to the field, with injuries forcing Ibrahim Bangurah out of the squad and Calum Doyle to start on the bench, with Louis Griffiths also away representing Wales U18s in the Jezek Cup.
It was the visitors who started on the front foot, putting pressure on the U’s and keeping United in their own half for the majority of the opening minutes. The constant pressure led to the opener in the 17th minute, when Wimbledon converted from the spot to make it 1-0. The lead was doubled in the 27th minute through a tidy chip over Will Jackson. The rest of the half was dominated by Wimbledon, and Oxford headed into the break 2-0 down.
Doyle was brought on at the break as the U's looked to change their approach, hoping to turn things around. Unfortunately, despite starting the half looking better, it wasn’t long before the visitors got their third and, with an hour gone, the comeback was looking more and more difficult.
More changes were made for the U’s as they continued to try and get one back, with Harrison Bradney coming close, but denied by a good save. Charlie Cramond also came close a few minutes later from a corner, however it wasn’t to be, and the ball sailed over the bar.
Despite coming close to getting a goal back, it was Wimbledon who grabbed the next one in the 75th minute with a good finish, giving Jackson no chance and making it 4-0. They then went on to rub salt in the wound, making it five in the 80th minute with a scrappy goal that couldn’t get cleared off the line.
A day to forget for the U18s, but no time to dwell on it as the A420 derby approaches this weekend in the opening group stage game of the Youth Alliance Cup.
United: Jackson, Cramond, Travin, Mole, Lacey, Bradney, Burton, Holton (Palmer-Flynn 64), Lee (Doyle 45), Snowden, Missanga (Abolade 62)
Unused Sub: Gardner
Report: Ollie Chevallier