The final game of the season for Oxford United Women ended in a 2-0 home win over Lewes, thanks to goals either side of half time from Ellie-Mae Richardson and Nicola Gibson.
United started on the front foot and kept the visitors largely in their own half without really creating any clear-cut chances to threaten Canadian keeper Emily Moore. That was until the 24th minute, when Richardson’s delivery into the area from the left was helped over the line by Moore to open the scoring.
Oxford continued to control the first half although, again, chances were at a premium. However, it didn’t take long into the second half for the U’s to double their lead. United were awarded a free kick outside the area, taken by Holly Manders from a similar position to where she scored in last week’s draw with Real Bedford. On this occasion, her effort came back off the bar and landed at the feet of Gibson to steer it into the net.
The U’s could have made it three later in the half, but Nicole Barrett’s drive from inside the area came crashing back of the post. Meanwhile, Beth Wookey was called into action with quarter of an hour remaining, diving at the feet of a Lewes forward, but that was the only time that the Rooks threatened a breakthrough as United kept it tight at the back while continuing to look dangerous every time they went forward.
Late in the game, youngsters Eva Burgess and Belle Rowden came on and impressed to help United close out the game. Rowden making her first team debut.
In the end, Oxford saw out a comfortable win to end the 2025/26 season in style.
The win was enough for the U’s to end the season in fourth place, just above Lewes. After a season of ups and downs, the players can now relax, enjoy the summer, and rebuild to hopefully mount a promotion campaign in 2026/27.
UNITED: Wookey, Gibson, Provan (Rowden 90+4), Wiseman, Bedeau, Barrett (Kendell 86), Legg (Trinder 83), Jenkins, Richardson (Thompson 60), Palmer, Manders (Burgess 90+2)
Attendance: 325
Watch the post-match interviews with Liam Gilbert and Beth Wookey HERE.
