Oxford United’s under 18s slipped to their first defeat of the season with a 2-0 loss at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday morning.

Coach Leon Blackmore-Such told us

“We were both undefeated going into the game but we knew it was going to be a tough task because we have had some real toe-to-toe games against them over the last couple of years.

“I felt we stood off them a bit too much in the first half and showed a little bit too much respect. That’s something we never usually do and will be a good lesson for the first years in particular because we talked afterwards about certain things that are non negotiable when you go out there- certain values that have to happen in every game.

“We were still in the game at the break though, just 1-0 down and we made a bit better contact in the second half, pressing a bit higher. We might have scored: there was a chance at the back post which went wide and a free kick from Josh Anifowose which went close but in the end they broke one on one down the left and scored their second from a simple tap in.

“One thing worth mentioning is that it’s not always about getting experience on the pitch. On Saturday the A34 was closed, then the M27, so we had travel problems but just look at how the first team adapted when they had the same at Accrington.

“No arguments or excuses from us at all but we talked about always showing the best versions of ourselves and showing our true personality and character in every 90 minutes. I think we will do that and we have the best chance to show it on Saturday when we are at home to Swindon who will be after revenge after we knocked them out of the League Cup the other week.”

United
Brearey, Watt, Nosokhare, Golding, Johnson, Gardner, Coe, Anifowose, Smith (O’Donkor), Crook, Owens (Tiamuna)