Oxford United U18s put on a dominant display as they thrashed Cheltenham Town 9-0 in the Youth Alliance League on Saturday.
After a controversial 1-1 draw earlier in the season, it was always going to be an interesting contest, however the U’s blew the Robins away by going 5-0 up by half time. First-half braces from Leo Snowden and Jack Lee gave United the perfect start, with Louis Griffiths also getting his name on the scoresheet. The U’s didn’t hold back in the second half and continued their dominance, with Leo Snowden getting his third and fourth of the day, joined by goals from Kasway Burton and Mubarak Abolade to make it 9-0.
It didn’t take long for United to open the scoring as Snowden grabbed his first of the day just four minutes in with a well-taken goal on his weaker foot.
The lead was doubled after 14 minutes. Jameson Blackmore played a well-timed pass over the top to send Lee through and he beat the last man before finishing with a cheeky chip over the keeper.
The U’s went 3-0 up 18 minutes in through Griffiths. A corner was not dealt with properly and the ball fell kindly to Griffiths, who got a shot away into the chaos and wasn’t cleared properly, bundling over the line and making things even worse for the Robins.
United made it four through a well-worked goal. Burton beat the fullback for pace before delivering a pinpoint cross to Snowden, who got away a decent header that would have been very close to going in. However, Lee made sure with a poacher's finish to get his second of the day.
Snowden scored his second after he was brought down in the box, stepping up to send the keeper the wrong way.
Both sides came out in the second half with very different approaches; for the visitors it was now damage control and for the U’s, they were never going to sit back.
The sixth goal came in the 65th minute. Griffiths split the defence open with a perfect through ball, leaving Burton with an easy finish, finding the bottom corner and giving the keeper no chance.
Snowden grabbed his hat-trick just three minutes later as he smashed the ball into the top corner from close range to make it 7-0.
Snowden continued his ridiculous form in front of goal, grabbing a fourth and his 26th of the season. Josh Holton delivered the corner which found Snowden at the back post, and he headed home, making it eight.
Abolade got number nine with probably the pick of the lot. Griffiths found him in space outside the box and he fired a shot into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance.
An amazing result for the Yellows and one that continues an unbelievable winning streak in the league, making it eight wins in a row.
UNITED: Patel, Gardner, Blackmore (Osborne 75), Bangurah (Collins 65), Cramond, Doyle (Palmer-Flynn 46), Burton (Missanga 70), Holton, Lee (Abolade 70), Griffiths, Snowden
Report: Ollie Chevalier
