United Youth Team Lose Out
Saturday 23rd August 2014Football League Youth Alliance, South West Division
At Oxford Sports and Social Club
Oxford United 1
(Hastings)
AFC Bournemouth 2
United’s youth team were beaten 2-1 by AFC Bournemouth in a well contested game full of fine football. Luke Hastings netted United’s goal, his fifth of the season, and Chris Allen told us:
“We knew what was coming because Bournemouth play a passing game and are very good at it. It is something we are looking to play ourselves and so it made for a decent game and there was a lot of clever movement and interplay from both teams.
“We had maybe the better of the early chances but then one good interchange and Bournemouth were into go 1-0 up. Credit to the boys for keeping their heads up and still trying to play good football to get us back into the game.
“That paid off when we won a free kick around the edge of their box and AJ George showed quick thinking to slip the ball in for Luke Hastings who finished well. He has scored five in five games so far and has made a very encouraging start as a scholar. Like all of them it is about learning the game and we should have switched on at that point. Instead we let Bournemouth get a goal right on the break having done the hard work to get level.
“We rallied in the second half and had a real go at it. Muctaru Conte and George Jeacock had chances but as a team we move on from this one and keep learning. If there is one lesson from this game then it is that when sides are playing out at the back so much you work as a team to push your own work rate up a notch and keep pressing them. It’s a good group this year and I am sure they will take that on board.”
United
Stevens, Welch-Hayes, Cundy, A. Grant, F. Grant, Humphries, Hayden, George, Jeacock (Graham), Conte (Jones), Hastings