Under-18s come back to win 2-1 against AFC Bournemouth
Two second-half goals, from Jordan Graham and Graham Bryan, earned United's youth team a comeback victory against AFC Bournemouth at Oxford City this afternoon.The match, played on the 3G pitch at Court Place Farm, was rescheduled from Saturday morning, when it was postponed due to a frozen pitch, and then relocated to Oxford City this morning with Abingdon United's pitch deemed unplayable.
United started strongly but soon found themselves on the back foot against their Premier League visitors for this Football League South West Alliance fixture. However, it was the U's who came closest to taking the lead in the 16th minute when an opportunist shot from Jordan Graham came back off the post. It didn't take long for the visitors to get their noses in front as they won a corner following an excellent block by Freddie Niblett. The resulting corner was floated in and headed home by an unmarked Bournemouth player.
Oxford started the second half with intent and found themselves level just four minutes after the break when the ball broke to Graham ten yards out and he finished emphatically past the stranded Cherries keeper.
Aaron Heap was played through by Graham just a couple of minutes later but he mis-hit his shot with just the keeper to beat. However, with just nine minutes remaining Oxford took the lead; some good attacking play earned the U's a corner which was floated in. There was a bit of a scramble in the Bournemouth area and when the ball came to Bryan he could hardly miss from just three yards out to earn United the three points.
This was a good performance from the youngsters in very cold conditions as they look to end the season on a high.
United: Clayton, Carr, Carroll, Niblett, Hawtin, Bryan, Napa (Chilcott 90), Baker (Hopkins 78), Cowan, Heap, Graham