Youth team beaten 2-0 by Robins
Oxford United's under-18s lost 2-0 at Cheltenham on Saturday in Merit League 2.United started brightly in windy conditions and could have gone ahead with a couple of chances in the first quarter of an hour. The U's even got the ball in the back of the net straight from a corner but the goal was disallowed for a foul on the Cheltenham keeper. However, Oxford failed to capitalise during this bright spell and were made to pay in the second half, after going in goalless at the break.
Cheltenham's first goal came from a header at a set piece, which was poorly defended by the Oxford rearguard. This was followed by a fine individual goal as the Robins' striker rounded a couple of United defenders before finishing well into the corner of the goal.
Speaking after the game, coach Leon Blackmore-Such told the official website: "After a bright start we seemed to go low on energy. Jack Stevens made two or three good saves and was probably the stand-out player, along with under-16s left-back Charlie Tuttle.
"However, we need to show more care, increase the energy levels and have more quality in the final third. We were missing characters like Freddie Grant, Lewis Hayden and Seth Humphries, although Seth is back in training this week and isn't far away from making a return."
United's under-18s are at home to Bristol Rovers on Saturday 4th April at the Rovers Sports Ground, kick-off 11am. Admission is free so why not get down and show your support for United's future players.
United: Stevens, Welch-Hayes, Diaz-Benitez (Dennis), Tuttle, Cook (Carroll), George, Conte, Graham, Hartley (McCormack), Jeacock