PREVIEW Oxford United U18 v Swindon Town U18

Young U's look to bounce back

22 October 2021

Oxford United’s Under 18s have a local derby tomorrow when they welcome Swindon Town to the Oxford Sports Park in the EFL Youth Alliance South West Division (11am)

The U’s lost for the first time in the league last weekend when Exeter City beat them 1-0 and as Darren Purse told us the U’s will be looking for a reaction on Saturday morning.

“It’s not about league tables at this level it is about developing players and part of that is how you overcome any setbacks.

"We were not great last weekend so you want to see the lads respond in training and then in the next game. It’s against Swindon and obviously there is that rivalry for the fans so that’s a good game where we can try to show that we have learned from last week and are on the front foot again.”

Ben Watt is now back with the under 18s after his loan at Straford Town while goalkeeper Eddie Brearey is close to a return after an ankle injury.

See midfielder Mac Masters looking forward to the game in this week’s Preview Show

Match Reports

REPORT Oxford United U18 0 Swindon Town U18 2

Young U's lose out

23 October 2021

Oxford United under 18s suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Swindon Town in the EFL Youth Alliance this morning.

After a cagey first-half, two quickfire goals midway through the second half for the visitors was United’s undoing.

United had the better of the first half but lacked a cutting edge. Josh Johnson went close with a shot that went just over and fellow midfielder Josh Anifowose forced the only save of note for either keeper after half an hour at the near post.

In the second half United went close a couple of times through Will Owens but he was denied by the keeper on the first occasion and then put the next chance over the bar.

Swindon took the lead on the hour mark after a ball from the right was drilled across and tapped in. Two moments later the ball was pulled back and fired in off the bar despite the best efforts of United keeper Fraser Barnsley.

United did hit the bar through Ibrahim Sankoh late on but couldn’t find a way back into the game.

Up next for Darren Purse’s side is a trip to Bournemouth next week.

UNITED: Barnsley, Sankoh, Nosakhare, Golding, Franklin, Masters(Took-Oxley 75), Johnson (Elliot-Wheeler 70), Anifowose, Coe, Smith, Owens (Tiamuna 60)

Report by Jack Sale