Oxford United Under-18s put on a ruthless performance on Saturday, beating local rivals Swindon Town 5-0.
Mubarak Abolade’s first-half brace and goals from both Josh Holton and Kesh Purcell, along with an own goal, wrapped up a 5-0 derby day win for United.
It’s a game which always carries significant value, even at Under-18s level, and this year it did not disappoint.
United named a strong starting eleven, with several of the boys in the Under-21s squad coming back in for this one.
Both teams came out flying, looking to deal the first blow and get the lead in a tense battle.
It was however United who dealt that first blow, with Mubarak Abolade opening the scoring for Oxford. Josh Holton did the hard work, beating his man before his strike was denied only by the post, the rebound fell favourably to Mubarak who netted for the lead, thirty minutes in.
The second came just five minutes later, United’s pressing paid off and Mubarak robbed the defender off the ball before finishing into an open net for his second.
Swindon gave their best efforts to get back in the contest, however, couldn’t beat a resilient Will Jackson in goal.
United started the second half the same way they ended the first, and Holton converted from the spot for Oxford’s third.
The dominance continued with a fourth coming only two minutes later. Mo Missanga forced a deflection from the defender, who watched the ball beat his own keeper into the back of the net.
Oxford weren’t going to stop there and wanted to turn this into an even bigger scoreline. The Young U’s work rate throughout the match was exceptional and they got what they deserved.
The goal of the day came in the 70th minute, Holton played an exquisite ball to Riley Dourish on the wing, who squared it to Purcell for an easy finish to make it 5-0 and wrap proceedings up in Swindon.
The win makes it three in a row against Swindon, scoring an unanswered 14 goals in the last three encounters against local rivals at Under-18s level.
Oxford United: Jackson, Trialist A, Osborne (Palmer-Flynn 63’), Collins, Cramond, Doyle, Abolade, Holton, Trialist B (Purcell 60’), Dourish (H. Vaughan 75’), Missanga (Trialist C 60’)
Unused sub: M. Vaughan
