Oxford United vs Portsmouth on 08 Mar 20 - Match Centre

Oxford United Women continue their double header of home league action this Sunday as they return to Court Place Farm to face Portsmouth Women. (2pm)

Manager Liam Gilbert:

“We had a tough, physically demanding game on Tuesday night, but to grind out the result like we did was pleasing to see. There were some really good moments, and there were some moments that we need to work on, but overall it was a good result to clinch the three points. It was good to get back playing as that’s what we’ve been training towards and to be fair to the girls they’ve been really patient and really dedicated leading up to the game.”

“Cheryl Williams is a quality player, and we see that week-in week-out in training, and we know what she’s capable of. Her shooting on Tuesday night was brilliant, and she was instrumental in us getting the result with both of her goals.”

“This weekend I’ll expect to see quite a free-flowing game with two teams who like to play football and to keep the ball on the deck. I know that Pompey have a number of good central-midfielders, and when you look at their recent additions that we will need to be prepared for, we will have a game plan on how to deal with that.”

Tickets
Tickets are priced at £5 for adults, £2 Concessions and FREE admission for under-16s at Court Place Farm (OX3 0NQ). Supporters can also follow our social media channels to keep up to date with all the news on matchday - including pre-match team news, in-game updates and post-match interviews. @OfficialOUWFC, as well as Facebook @OxfordUnitedWomen.Regional Talent Club

Fundraiser
The U10s from the RTC are going on tour. The girls are being offered a once in a lifetime experience to travel to Holland to represent United. They will be spending four days with Vitesse Arnhem where they will receive top class coaching and compete against local opposition. The girls will be flag bearers for this weekend’s game and they will also be selling raffle tickets to spectators -£1 per ticket or £5 per book. Prizes include Cotswold Wildlife Park, Waterperry Gardens, Junkyard Golf, Oxford Ice Rink, Blenheim Palace, Cotswold Farm Park, Race Hut, Party Man and much more. There will
be a silent auction for a signed OUFC shirt, a signed OUWFC shirt and a signed OUWFC ball. plus a speed machine (£1 a go) to test the power of your shot as well as a cake sale of OUFC cupcakes.

The five game form guide

Oxford- W: 4 D: 0 L: 1
United will look to continue their good run of form after a 2-1 victory against MK Dons last Tuesday. Before that nited’s last league outing saw a strong 6-1 win away in Somerset at Keynsham.

Portsmouth- W: 3 D: 0 L: 2
Last weekend Pompey visited MK Dons in league action and came away with a 4-0 win. While United played on Tuesday, Portsmouth’s visit to Hounslow was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. A home walkover versus Winchester City Flyers aside, Portsmouth’s last home game came against Southampton in a South Coast derby which culminated in a 2-0 win for visitors Southampton.

Portsmouth’s One to Watch: Rosie McDonnell
After making her debut for her hometown club Bradford in 2013, the left back signed for Coventry where she was part of the team that won the National League South. McDonnell joined Portsmouth in October 2019 and scored last time out against MK Dons.

The Matchday Programme
Programmes will be available from the turnstiles for just £1, containing an interview with United’s number one Paris Sercombe, thoughts from the Manager Liam Gilbert, and the latest news from Oxford United Women.

Match Previews

Oxford United Women marked International Women’s Day with a 2-1 win against Portsmouth as Kayleigh Hines’ impressive opener and Daisy McLachlan’s intelligent winner gave them all three points despite Hayley Bridge’s first half equaliser for Portsmouth in front of a healthy crowd this afternoon at Court Place Farm.

Despite early proceedings being dominated by a number of set pieces the highlight of the first 20 minutes came when Emily Allen sent a wonderful ball over the top of Pompey’s defence to find the onrushing McLachlan. Unselfishly, McLachlan squared the ball to Georgia Timms, whose shot was met by a fine save from Haughton in the Pompey net.

On 23 minutes Hines produced a moment of magic for The U’s, popping up in the centre of the field to produce a trademark strike which cannoned off the left-hand post and into the net, leaving Haughton well-beaten and the crowd stunned.

However, United’s advantage lasted only 10 minutes due to Bridge’s movement and finish at the back post as the ball was whipped across the face of United’s goal and blasted into the roof of the net.

Timms looked to be the focal point of United’s play early into the second half but the number nine was unable to latch onto a dangerous McLachlan ball threaded through Pompey’s two centre-halves shortly after the break.

Nonetheless, Timms’ hard work in pressing the visitors’ backline proved to be vital in keeping Pompey at bay during a period of pressure for The U’s, whilst also forcing a number of corners.

On 75 minutes it was McLachlan who restored United’s advantage as her clever movement to sweep home a low delivery across the face of goal drew parallels with Pompey’s earlier equaliser. The U’s newest addition Molly Peters, proved influential with her acceleration helping to drive forward United’s attack and earning the assist.

United made sure that Pompey would not get themselves back into the game with Sophie Baker’s introduction in place of Ellie Searle adding fresh legs to maintain the pressure on the visitors. The energy shown by United right until the very last second proved testament to Liam Gilbert and his coaching team, and United ended the game well worthy of their three points in the Oxfordshire sunshine,

United
Sercombe, Roberts, Sims, Haynes, McLachlan, Hines, Timms, Williams (Peters), Searle (Baker), Allen, Clifford

Att: 285

Report: Jacob Gill Photo: Tom Melvin

Match Reports

Oxford United

PREVIEW Oxford United Women vs Portsmouth

REPORT Oxford United Women 2 Portsmouth Women 1