Oxford United U19s beat Swindon town 4-1 at the Bangkok Glass Training Centre this afternoon to secure the double over their local rivals in the Youth Alliance South West Division.
A Gatlin O'Donkor double and one from Kasway Burton put the U's 3-0 up at half time, before Joel McGregor scored in the 66th minute to prevent a United clean sheet. United reacted well and scored a fourth through Enrique Tiamuna to earn the bragging rights.
It was a strong start for United; O’Donkor, who has been playing men’s football for the last few months, completely outmuscled Harley Hunt, spun the Swindon defender and was pulled back to win and convert a penalty in the seventh minute to give United the advantage.
Swindon had started on the front foot, no surprise for a team who have scored 15 in the last three, but the centre-back partnership of Max Smith, making his first start back after an ACL injury, and Erion Zabeli defended well.
After the goal United started to settle and moved the ball well down the left. Following ten minutes of sustained pressure, the U’s found their second in the 26th minute. Enrique Tiamuna stole the ball high up the pitch, bided his time and patiently picked a pass to Kasway Burton on the right, who thundered his strike past Redman Evans for two.
Then, ten minutes later, United made it three in the first half. Ibby Sankoh floated the ball into O’Donkor who pinned Shyam Taank, rolled the centre back and finished excellently to double his tally for the day and send the Yellows into the break in firm control.
It was almost a hattrick for Gatlin two minutes after the restart, as he lifted the ball past Evans but just wide of the post.
In the 57th minute, United fan Zaide Took-Oxley almost scored against his rivals. He combined beautifully with O'Donkor, and the one-two put him through on goal, but his two efforts were somehow cleared on the goal line by Evans and Taank.
United, who were dominating the game, made three subs. Aaron Lacey, Josh Iheanacho and Richard McIntyre replaced Smith, O'Donkor and birthday boy Ibby Sankoh.
Unfortunately, United were denied their clean sheet in the 66th minute, as Joel McGregor pulled one back for the visitors from inside the box.
Tiamuna got in on the action to restore the three-goal lead with 15 minutes to play. After Aidan Elliott-Wheeler's effort was scrambled away from him at his feet by the Swindon keeper, the ball fell to Tiamuna who cut inside, sold his man and finished left footed for 4-1.
United made their final sub when Tiamuna was replaced by Jacob Fowler and it went from bad to worse for Swindon, as Fletcher Hubbard was sent off for kicking out with minutes left.
The game ended 4-1, with United having put a combined seven goals past their rivals in both games in the League. A strong derby-day win which will give the U's a big boost ahead of their fifth round FA Youth Cup tie against Leeds United on Wednesday night. See you at the Kassam.
LINEUP: Barnsley, Sankoh (McIntyre 68), Smith (Lacey 61), Zabeli, Maxwell, Johnson, Took-Oxley, Tiamuna (Fowler 84), Burton (Brenan 45), O'Donkor (Iheanacho 64), Elliott-Wheeler
