PREVIEW: FREE Entry as Women Host Gillingham

United raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

25 October 2019

Oxford United Women face Gillingham at home on Sunday in the FA Women’s National League with the game being dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Entry to the match will be FREE (2pm)

United Women will be looking to continue their excellent form, having scored 27 goals in their last three matches. Entry to the game on Sunday is FREE but we urge supporters to put what they would usually pay for entry towards bucket collections for local charity Against Breast Cancer who will be around the ground throughout the afternoon.

Game information

The match will be played at Court Place Farm on Sunday (OX3 0NQ) and with the match being FREE entry, why not bring the family down for an afternoon of football? Kick-off is at 2pm.

Alongside the first team this weekend, United Women will also wear pink warm up tops to show support towards Against Breast Cancer. First Team Manager Liam Gilbert told us:

“The whole club is supporting Against Breast Cancer which is a local Abingdon-based charity. There were interviews earlier in the month with a couple of our players and it’s amazing to see how much it means to them to support this. The men will wear warm up tops on the Saturday, the girls will do exactly the same on the Sunday and then the shirts will be auctioned off with all profits going towards the charity.

“Admission is on a donations basis, there will be bucket collections, people with information on how to support the charities and what they do. We also have a special programme with proceeds going towards the charity. It’s a subject that is so close to a lot of us and we really want to get behind it as much as we can.”

Stay tuned for full details on how you can bid for the signed shirts. We will have information right here on the club website and across our social media channels in due course.

Team News
United will be without club captain Lauren Haynes as she begins her recovery from injury, whilst Cat Beaver will be monitored ahead of the game after being forced off after ten minutes with a calf strain on Wednesday against MK Dons.

Programme

A full special edition pink matchday programme is available at the turnstiles. We have put the price up to £1.50 with the extra 50p being donated towards the charity. The programme contains the latest news from Oxford United Women, the thoughts from First Team Manager Liam Gilbert, an open interview with Georgia Clifford on the topic of breast cancer and much more.

Coverage
Keep up to date on everything happening at Oxford United Women by following us on Twitter and Facebook @OfficialOUWFC. We will also have live text updates on the match on Twitter and a match report right here as soon as possible at the end of the game.

Match Reports

REPORT Oxford United Women 1 Gillingham Ladies 2

United Women lose out to Gillingham

27 October 2019

Despite plenty of chances and controlling possession, Oxford United Women fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Gillingham in the FA Women's National League South this afternoon.

Having scored 27 goals in their last three matches, United were made to be patient in the first half but had a handful of chances to break the deadlock at a sunny Court Place Farm. Daisy McLachlan found a lot of space down the U’s right wing and tested the goalkeeper with the game’s first effort when she shifted the ball onto her left but her shot lacked power and was comfortable for the Gillingham stopper.

Emily Allen then worked the ball nicely on to her right 15 minutes into the game and fizzed in a shot but her effort bounced just wide. United had plenty of opportunities to break the deadlock and went the closest on 18 through Allen again; the winger burst forward into the area and stabbed her shot wide of the mark.

Still United came forward but everything they threw at Gillingham was matched by goalkeeper Cara Davies. The Gillingham ‘keeper saved well on three occasions, denying McLachlan, Hines and Timms as the U’s searched for the opener but Gillingham did well to keep the scores level at half time.

Shortly after the restart, despite the U’s first half dominance it was in fact the visitors who took the lead. Hines gave away a freekick 30 yards from goal and the Gillingham midfielder fancied her chances from range. Her effort looped over Aimee Watson and despite her best efforts to claw the ball away, was adjudged to have crossed the line.

Advantage Gillingham. But after a slow start to the half this kicked the U’s back into life as United were immediately pressing their opponents again. Williams hooked an effort wide before Allen was set free by Baker forcing Davies into yet another save.

Hines was next to try her luck from distance. From a headed clearance, the U’s midfielder attempted a spectacular volley from the edge of the area which went narrowly wide.

Just as United were finding their stride again in the second half, Gillingham were handed an opportunity to double their lead from the spot after a forward was tripped in the area. Gillingham made no mistake from 12 yards placing the penalty in off the bar leaving Watson with no chance.

On came Moore for McLachlan who had a good game on the wing and United came so close to their first of the afternoon 20 minutes from time. Williams crashed a freekick against the bar but still United couldn’t find a goal. Gillingham's goalkeeper was forced off ten minutes from time through injury and was replaced by an outfield player.

Timms scored a late goal from the penalty spot to give United hope but it wasn't enough as United fell to a 2-1 defeat.

We would like to thank all 143 of you who came out to support the girls today and help raise money for Against Breast Cancer as the U's continue its support towards Breast Cancer Awareness Month

UNITED: Watson, Clifford, Lancaster, Sims, Searle, Hines, Baker (Johns), Williams, McLachlan (Moore), Timms, Allen

Unused subs: Sercombe, Kirby, Bent

Report by Liam Potter

Match Reports