Oxford United’s under 18s concluded their Merit League season with a 2-2 draw away at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

The team, having won their original South West Division League, have performed well in a new division since the turn of the year and goals from midfielder Josh Anifowose and centre-half James Golding saw them end the season with a battling point on the south coast.

“We were pleased with the performance over all” coach Chris Hackett told us. “We have played a very young side since the turn of the year and they are learning all the time. It was a wet and windy morning so conditions weren’t great but we started really well and should have been ahead but got caught on the counter by a very good Bournemouth side so we were a little unlucky to be 1-0 down.

“We played some good football and a move down the left led to Will Owens putting in a good cross and Josh Anifowose arriving late in the box to level it at 1-1 with a good finish. Then we went 2-1 up from a corner which James Golding got on the end of for a good goal.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t hold on to that and Bournemouth levelled before the break but the second half was pretty even. They had a couple of chances to score but we also went close so I think both teams will be relatively happy with a draw in the end.”

United
Barnsley, Sankoh, Nosakhare, Golding, Trialist, Gardner, Smith, Anifowose, Crook, J Johnson, Owens

Subs: Tiamuna, O’Donkor, S Johnson, Brearey