4-3-3

27
Kite

GK
8
Stevens

DF
5
Beaver

DF
6
Casley

DF
3
Provan

DF
4
Haynes (C)

MF
10
Cole

MF
19
Burridge

MF
17
King

FW
9
Johns

FW
7
McLachlan

FW

Substitutes

14
Gray

SUB
12
Hartigan

SUB
2
French

SUB

Manager

-

Liam Gilbert

4-4-2

Substitutes

Manager

Match Previews

PREVIEW Oxford United Women v Bridgwater United

Women get set for first game of the season

19 August 2022

Oxford United Women open their season this Sunday at home to Bridgwater United.

Court Place Farm will host the first game in an exciting season for The U’s who face the team who finished two places behind them in the Southern Premier Division last season.

Kick-off is at 2 PM on Sunday the 21^st of August. Tickets will be priced as follows:

Adults £6.00 / Over 65 £3.00 / Men’s ST Holders £3.00 / Under 16s FREE

Season tickets will also be available on the gate. We have already sold a record amount, doubling our sales from last season. The Yellow Army at Court Place Farm continues to grow so don’t miss out.

Buy a season ticket here: https://www.ouwfc.co.uk/tickets/product/season-ticket-22-23/

Buy match tickets here: https://www.ouwfc.co.uk/tickets/product-category/tickets/match-tickets/

Manager Liam Gilbert said

“I can’t wait to get started, it’s been a long time coming and we’ve been waiting for this last six or seven weeks to get up and running and the day is finally upon us. The squad are in really good spirits, and they’ve been superb in training this week. We feel really ready for the weekend.”

Why should you come and watch Oxford United Ladies?

“You’ll see a group of people that have the same heart and mentality as you do as Oxford United fans, we’ll put our all into every last second and play some really exciting football,” said Gilbert.

Court Place Farm was a fortress last season, with the U’s going unbeaten all season at home. The squad and staff know how important the fans were in helping the team achieve that record, and are looking to emulate it this year, starting on Sunday.

“It’s so important that you start off the season with a win. It won’t be the be all and end all, but we are so happy the first one is at home and it’s a team we know quite well so hopefully we’ve done our homework,” said the gaffer.

“They’ll be a very good team they always are. They have some fantastic players and they’re always very well organised. We just need to make sure we are at the top of our game and that’s how we will need to be to beat them.”

With the season fast approaching, here is the Squad list for the 2022/23 campaign:

Paris Sercombe (Goalkeeper – retained)
Billie French (Defender – retained)
Shelley Provan (Defender – signed from Southampton Women Football Club)
Lauren Haynes © (Midfielder – retained)
Cat Beaver (Defender – retained)
Riva Casley (Defender – retained)
Daisy McLachlan (Forward – retained)
Lily Stevens (Midfielder – retained)
Carly Johns (Forward – retained)
Naomi Cole (Midfielder – signed from Crawley Wasps Football Club)
Sophie Baker (Midfielder – retained)
Erin Hartigan (Forward – moved up from development squad)
Jaime Gotch (Defender – signed from Portsmouth Women Football Club)
Sarah King (Forward – retained)
Leah Burridge (Midfielder – signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers Women Football Club)
Lois Joslyn (Defender – signed from Reading Women Football Club)
Georgia Hayes (Defender – retained)
Hannah Mackenzie (Defender – retained)
Rose Kite (Goalkeeper – retained)
Libby Gilmore (Defender – retained)

Bridgwater United finished fourth in the league last season, only two places behind the Yellows. Both teams beat each other at their home grounds last season, with Oxford losing 1-0 away at Fairfax Park and beating the Somerset-based side 3-0 at Court Place Farm. The U’s also beat Bridgwater 2-0 at home in the League Cup.

There has never been a better time to come along to Court Place Farm and support Oxford United Women. We can’t wait for Sunday and hope to see you there.

Buy a season ticket here: https://www.ouwfc.co.uk/tickets/product/season-ticket-22-23/

Buy match tickets here: https://www.ouwfc.co.uk/tickets/product-category/tickets/match-tickets/

Match Reports

REPORT Oxford United Women 2 Bridgwater United 0

U's start season with a win

21 August 2022

Oxford United Women opened their FAWNL Southern Premier Division season with a strong 2-0 victory against Bridgwater United at Court Place Farm this afternoon.

New number ten Naomi Cole opened the scoring on 35 minutes with a splendid volley into the top corner. Riva Casley then doubled the U’s lead just after half-time from a corner.

Bridgwater looked nervy for the first five minutes, with Oxford winning a couple of set pieces early on. Leah Burridge’s dipping effort on 10 minutes was the first shot on target for either side, the movement troubling Beth Howard before the Bridgwater keeper gathered at the second time of asking.

On 22 minutes Oxford so nearly took the lead. Sarah King flashed the ball across the six-yard box and Daisy McLachlan poked the ball just past the post. Bridgwater also had chances: Ellie Sara cut inside Lauren Haynes and fired a long-range effort past the diving Rose Kite, but just wide of the left-hand post.

There was a height mismatch on the pitch as Carly Johns had the difficult challenge of being marked by the 6’2” Amy Goddard. The Bridgwater centre-back unsurprisingly won most of the aerial battles, but Johns won the overall duel, with some quick feet getting the better of her marker who was at least a head taller than her.

The last time these two teams met, the Robins ran out 1-0 victors at Fairfax Park, but that was water under the bridge for the Yellows. In the 35th minute, United got the goal they deserved. The ball fell to Cole on the edge of the box who volleyed brilliantly into the top left corner on her full debut.

women_ 210822 Bridgwater (6).jpg
The U’s went into the break deservedly one goal up, and went two goals ahead in the 49th minute. The excellent Johns' corner was met by defender Casley whose clever flicked header looped into the back of the net. 2-0 to the Yellows.

women_ 210822 Bridgwater (11).jpg

The U’s started to turn it on. On 51 minutes Sarah King nutmegged her full-back and fed Burridge who backheeled the ball just past the path of Johns. The Bridgwater defence managed to clear but it would've been some goal.

The second half was all Oxford, dominating possession and troubling Robins defenders on multiple occasions, whilst Casley and Cat Beaver were imperious at the back. New signings Provan, Burridge, and Cole all put in strong performances and United looked to have used pre-season well to gel as a squad.

King made way for Erin Hartigan with ten minutes to go, who was only able to play for a minute after sustaining an injury from a nasty clash. She was subsequently replaced by Billie French.
Academy prospect Jess Gray came on in the 94th minute, replacing Burridge.

Bridgwater United finished fourth in the league last season, so this result was a really strong start for the Yellows, who looked comfortable for the majority of the game. 2-0 may flatter the Robins, however, as United’s dominance probably deserved another goal or two.

Next up the U’s have a long trip down to Devon to face Plymouth Argyle Women on Sunday the 28th of August.

UNITED
Kite, Stevens, Beaver, Casley, Provan, Haynes, Cole, Burridge (Gray, 90+4’), King (Hartigan, 81 – French, 86’), Johns, Mclachlan

Attendance 259

Report by Billy Lawrence, pictures Darrell Fisher