Oxford United Women began their pre-season with a 4-0 win over Abingdon United Women tonight.
Iesha Swaby was on the scoresheet twice, as Sarah King and a trialist also scored one each.
The Yellows’ first summer signing, Phoebe Williams, was straight into the action, starting in a midfield three alongside Sammy Wynne and Lily Stevens.
United had an early wake-up call and were lucky not to be a goal down when formerU's skipper Sahara Osborne-Ricketts flicked her header on to the post in the second minute from an in-swinging corner.
As the game grew, so did the United side, who started moving the ball in their typical elegant manner and scored with their first real chance. In the 25th minute the trialist put the U’s ahead after some excellent work from Lacy-Jai Liggett down the right-hand side.
On the half hour mark Hannah Mackenzie, who played her first minutes since becoming a mother, and Wynne made way for Lois Josyln and another trialist before United had a few more good chances saved well by the Abingdon keeper.
Caitlin Crierie made a strong save with her feet and Jaime Gotch blocked well with her head to see out the half a goal to the good.
The U's named a changed lineup for the second half bar Crierie in goal, and the new energy saw a quick second added in the 56th minute. Shelly Provan did well going forward from left back, and King's shot from her cross took a nasty deflection to ricochet into the net off an Abingdon defender to double Oxford's lead.
Georgia Hayes replaced Joslyn and five minutes later Swaby's first time effort high into the net from King's excellent slotted pass made it three.
Swaby then scored at the near post with seconds remaining following Daisy McLachlan's cross.
A good run out for both sides and a solid start to pre-season for the U's featuring some fluid football and a clean sheet. Thank you to Abingdon United for the game and hospitality and best wishes for the upcoming season.
United
Crierie, Gray, Gotch, Trialist, Mackenzie (Joslyn 30’), Wynne (Trialist 30’), Stevens, Williams, Hartigan, Liggett, Trialist
Second Half Eleven: Crierie, Joslyn (Hayes 60’), Sherwood, Gilmore, Provan, Trialist, Trialist (Trialist 60’), Burridge, Mclachlan, King, Swaby
Report by Billy Lawrence, Photos by Liam Faulkner