Wins for both United's development squad and youth teams
Oxford United's development squad and youth team both won 2-1 this afternoon in simultaneous games against AFC Wimbledon and Cheltenham town respectively.United's development squad, a new initiative this season to bridge the gap between the under-18s and the first team, dominated the first hour of their game against AFC Wimbledon on the main pitch at the Roman Way training ground. Oxford took an early lead when Tyrone Marsh leapt high to head home a David Lynn corner in just the third minute. The lead was increased ten minutes into the second half when Callum O'Dowda crossed for Josh Shama to head beyond the Dons keeper. The pair later combined for Shama to rifle the ball home again, but the young striker had already been flagged offside. Wimbledon pulled a goal back during their first real spell of pressure midway through the second half with a shot following a short corner that their winger curled beyond the reach of Max Crocombe.
Jon Meades played for the first 65 minutes before being replaced by AJ George, fresh from playing the first half for the youth team on an adjacent pitch.
After the game Mickey Lewis told the official website "This was a good win, the result of lots of hard work from the lads. It was an entertaining match with lots of good attacking football and two great goals."
United: Crocombe, Grant, Triallist, Lynn, Triallist, Hawtin, Ashby, Meades (George), O'Dowda, Shama, Marsh
Meanwhile, the under-18s strengthened their position at the top of the South West Alliance with a 2-1 win over Cheltenham thanks to a brace from leading scorer James Roberts.
Coach Chrissy Allen told the website: "The first half was very bit bitty with neither team really having control of the game and it took 35 minutes before we started to make runs in behind and cause them problems. We went ahead with a penalty five minutes before half-time; nothing was happening in the game and then a ball went into the box and one of their lads handled the ball inside the area, which was fortunate for us as neither side deserved to take the lead.
"In the second half we used the width to much greater effect and scored a second when Sam Humphreys did well to switch the play and Greg Hackett beat his full back and pulled the ball back and Robbo scored his second goal."
United: Hill, Clarke, Triallist, Ekpiteta, Welch-Hayes, Hackett, George (Conte), Hayden, Humphreys, Roberts, Ingram (Calvin)