A very young Oxford United under 18 side found Portsmouth just that little bit too experienced on Saturday, losing 4-0 to Pompey on the south coast.

United, having won their division in the first part of the season, are now playing a series of games on a more regional basis than previous Merit Leagues in pre-covid times.

That led to a mixture of under 16s and trialists taking on Pompey and although the U’s created chances in the first half they were a goal down at the break and then beaten 4-0 as further changes gave Portsmouth the upper hand in a disjointed performance.

However it was still a positive weekend for the Academy with the age group sides from under 9 to under 15 able to return to the Oxford Sports Park on Sunday for the first time since the current Lockdown.

There were smiles all round dutring a series of team bonding activities and also plenty of advice on current media protocols as the young U’s start to return to training and matches.

The Under 18s will play against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday while the Under 21s are back in action in midweek when they welcome Bristol Rovers to the Training Ground for a friendly on Wednesday afternoon.

United U18 v Portsmouth
Marriott, Richardson, Zabali, Franklin, Sankoh, Trialist (Trialist), Trialist (Took-Oxley), Tiamuna, Owens (Griffith), O'Donkor, Trialist