PREVIEW Oxford United U18 v Exeter City U18

Youth team welcome the Grecians

15 December 2023

Oxford United Under 18s welcome Exeter City to the Bangkok Glass Training Centre on Saturday morning as their EFL Youth Alliance fixtures for 2023 finish for a Christmas break.

The young U’s have a big week ahead of them with the FA Youth Cup Third Round game at Gillingham on Tuesday evening.

“Tuesday is a massive game for the lads” Coach Pablo Haysham told us. “We had a great run in that competition last season and we want to do well again but we have to concentrate on Saturday's game fiirst. Exeter have a great history of developing players through their youth system, just like we do, so it is always a really good game.

“The players will get a bit of a break over Christmas so we are asking them to stay focussed and make sure we end 2023 in the right way.”

Saturday’s game is free admission at the Training Ground.

The winners of the Gillingham v Oxford United FA Youth Cup game will play either Middlesbrough or Sunderland at home in the Fourth Round.

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REPORT Oxford United U18 2 Exeter City U18 3

Young U's lose to the Grecians

18 December 2023

Oxford United’s under 18s were beaten 3-2 at home by Exeter City on Saturday in the EFL Youth Alliance but the result doesn’t tell the full story.

With a big FA Youth Cup game at Gillingham on Tuesday night the U’s took the chance to field a side that combined their under 15s and 16s and although they found themselves 3-0 down against an older Exeter side they staged a remarkable comeback to make it 3-2.

“They were on top at the end and unlucky not to get something out of the game” Coach Pablo Haysham told us.

“We have a very talented group in those two age groups and they will learn a lot from Saturday. Playing against people two or three years older, at that stage in their development, is always going to be a challenge but they never let their heads drop, they kept playing and got the two goals back through Freddie Milner and Jack Lee.

“It would have been nice to get something out of the game but ultimately it’s all about helping them as players and this was a good game for them all.

“The older lads now have to match that determination when we travel down to Gillingham on Tuesday.”

UNITED
Treml, Palmer-Flynn, Trialist, Trialist, Blackmore, Holton, Doyle, Milner, Griffiths, Dourish, Abokade

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