Oxford United’s under 18 team moved eight points clear at the top of the EFL Youth Alliance South West Division with a 2-0 win away at Exeter City on Saturday.
Top scorer Slavi Spasov opened the scoring before fellow striker Jordan Edwards netted his third goal in three games to keep the youth team’s impressive form going, as Coach Leon Blackmore-Such told us:
“It was another really good win and all credit to the lads. We were up and on the road by 6am but part of the experience is dealing with things like that and we started OK without creating too many chances in a very close first half. We were still playing some nice football and credit to Freddie Niblett, Harry Sampford and Nico Jones who kept thing tight at the back and enabled us to go on and win the game.
“We made a slight change at half time and moved Kyran Lofthouse further forward looking to try and take players on a bit more. The first goal came from excellent play from Michael Elechi on the left to force a corner which James Cowan delivered and Slavi Spasov got on to at the near post to head home and make it 1-0.
“There was one big moment where Max Harris made an excellent save but we then made it 2-0 when Kyran got to the line and cut it back and Jordan scored from about eight yards out to keep his run going and make sure we got the win.
“The good thing is that none of the lads are getting carried away and we have the same attitude and work ethic all the time. We are eight points clear with six games to go but that’s not the key thing. What they should be focussed on is getting in to the under 23 side regularly, or making sure that when the first team need players then their name is the first one the Manager thinks of. So this was a good win and we are happy with the progress, but we always keep the bigger picture in mind as well."
United’s under 18s are next in action this Saturday when they welcome Bristol Rovers to Northcourt Road Abingdon, with kick off at 11am
United
Harris, Lofthouse, Sampford (Goodrham), Niblett, Jones, Elechi, McCreadie, Cowan, Chambers-Parillon, Lopes (Ferguson), Spasov (Edwards)