Oxford United’s Under 18s beat the weather but lost a thriller at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday as they were beaten 3-2 in the EFL Youth Alliance.

2-0 up through a Jack Lee goal and a Cammy Cooper strike, United let Rovers back into the game and a red card for defender Harrison Mole rubbed salt into the wound as Coach Pablo Haysham told us

“It was a great game for any neutrals, but not from our perspective. We started very strongly and Jack Lee’s shot across goal was helped in by a defender. Cammy then put us 2-0 up from Josh Holton’s assist and we were playing OK but then the home side made it 2-1 before a goalbound effort was handled on the line - a red card and they scored from the penalty to make it 2-2.

“We then conceded quickly after the break but credit to the lads because we tried everything to get back into the game despite being a man down. We might easily have had a penalty of our own late on but it wasn’t given but there was a bit of spirit and now we have to pick ourselves up

“Some of the players will be involved in the Senior Cup game at Kidlington on Wednesday which will again be great experience for them”.

UNITED
Marriott, Mole, Smith, Bangurah, Travin, Brenan, Holton, Griffiths (Doyle), Burton, Cooper, Lee (Snowden)