Oxford United Under-21s beat Swindon 3-2 on Tuesday in their opening game of the Next Wave Championship.
Swindon opened the scoring after 21 minutes, but United managed to turn the game around before half time through Harrison Bradney and an own goal. The Robins got back level on the hour mark to set up a tense final 30 minutes. A moment of magic from Kasway Burton, who finished off a mazy solo run in the 83rd minute, won it for Oxford and gave them the perfect start to their season.
Bradney led Pablo Haysham’s side out for the season opener in a lineup which included a return to Under-21s football for Leo Snowden, following his long-term injury last season.
United thought they had got their season off to a perfect start after just eleven minutes. Charlie Cramond found the back of the net from a corner, however the celebrations were cut short when the referee disallowed the goal.
It was the visitors who then took the lead in the 21st minute. Harry Jones was forced into make a strong save, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the goal as the Swindon forward finished the rebound to fire his side ahead.
It didn’t take long for Oxford to get level, and Swindon handed this one to them. A dangerous cross from Maeson Vaughan was met by a Swindon shoulder which looped into the back of the net for an own goal.
Oxford completed the first half comeback and made it 2-1 in the 43rd minute. It was Bradney, fresh off his pre-season with the First Team squad, who put Oxford ahead after a clever one-two with Riley Dourish.
Swindon found an equaliser on the hour mark with a bit of fortune as the ball deflected past Jones to make it 2-2.
The game needed a bit of magic to break the deadlock, as Oxford kept pushing to try and find that third goal.
This moment of brilliance came in the 83rd minute from Kasway Burton, when the forward picked it up on the halfway line before driving past several players and nestling a shot into the bottom corner.
It was a perfect start to the league season for the Under-21s and even better by picking up three points against local rivals, Swindon Town.
Oxford United: Jones, Palmer-Flynn, Trialist, Frederick, Cramond, Bradney, M. Vaughan, Holton, Burton (Osborne 90+2’), Dourish, Snowden (Purcell 74’)
Unused subs:
Jackson, Griffith, Mainwaring
