Oxford United Under-18s continued their unbeaten start to season on Saturday by drawing 2-2 with defending champions AFC Wimbledon.
The Young U’s opened the scoring just after the half hour mark through Maeson Vaughan, but it didn’t take long for the visitors to get back level. United then went back ahead through Fiki Adesanya on the brink of half time, before Wimbledon came from behind once again, this time on the hour mark, to make it 2-2.
It was an unchanged eleven for United in their first home game of the season, following their win over Leyton Orient in the league opener.
Both sides began cautiously, not wanting to make the first mistake in a heavyweight clash. The first chance of the game fell to Adesanya who attempted to round the keeper but was denied by the Wimbledon keeper.
Vaughan then stepped up with a spectacular finish into the top corner to open the scoring. Wimbledon quickly responded to Maeson’s moment of magic and equalised just two minutes later after latching onto a loose United pass.
It didn’t take long for Oxford to restore their advantage. A composed finish from Adesanya on the brink of half time gave United a lead heading into the break.
Wimbledon came back with another equaliser just 15 minutes into the second half. Thierry Henry equalised for the visitors to make it 2-2.
Oxford had several chances to win it in the closing stages. Kesh Purcell was denied one-on-one on two occasions by the Wimbledon keeper.
It was a heart-in-mouth moment for the Dons keeper in the final kick of the game when he found himself in no man’s land after losing the ball. Liam Kiriisa took it past him before his effort went agonisingly close and into the side netting.
An entertaining game between two sides that won their respective leagues last season was settled by a point each in an end-to-end finish.
Oxford United: Jackson, Payne (Mainwaring 84’), Osborne, Folarin, Griffith, Appiah, M. Vaughan (Dickinson-Annell 72’), Palmer-Flynn, Purcell, Dourish, Adesanya (Kiriisa 80’)
Unused subs: Jones, Andrews
