Oxford United women lost 1-0 to Crawley Wasps in the FAWNL Cup this afternoon at Court Place Farm.
In sweltering heat the U's worked the first chances of the game through Kayleigh Hines who looked lively in the middle of the park alongside captain Lauren Haynes.
Hines first received the ball in midfield and took aim from 30 yards but saw her effort sail comfortably wide. Working space for herself again in midfield moments later she took aim from distance once more, but this time her effort flew narrowly wide as she began to find her distance.
Despite the challenging conditions the U’s did well to press their opponents. An injury to Ellie Kirby prompted the first water break of the afternoon as temperatures exceeded 30 degrees. Kirby was unable to continue and was replaced by Ellie Searle midway through the first half.
Haynes swung a cross in on 30 minutes looking for the head of Johns but the young forward was adjudged to have pushed her marker while Georgia Timms went close as she was put through on goal with her strike being saved by the Crawley goalkeeper.
Goalless at half time the early stages of the second period saw Immy Lancaster have the first sight on goal as she picked up the ball on the edge of the area. Her strike however, was straight down the throat of the Crawley goalkeeper.
Crawley had the best chance of the game 20 minutes from time as a good ball from Nash found a forward unmarked in the area but her finish was poor and it was fired wide.
As both sides began to tire the game became very open. Steph Bent fired in a dangerous delivery which was headed behind for a corner before Carly Johns was nearly set free by Lancaster if not for a good interception by the Crawley defence.
Just as the game seemed to be heading towards extra time, United fell behind. A defensive mistake allowed a Crawley forward in behind and she finished well past Sercombe in a cruel blow to United who were looking the most likely to score.
UNITED : Sercombe, Roberts, Clifford, Beaver, Kirby (Searle), Hines, Haynes (c), Johns, Lancaster, Bent, Timms (Moore)