Sunday 20 September 2026
FA WNL Southern Premier Division
MGroup Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 5
(Quirk 4’, 55’, 57’, Manders 49’, Sealey 90’)
Plymouth Argyle… 0
Liam Gilbert celebrated his 150th game in charge of the U’s as his side beat Plymouth Argyle 5-0 to stay top of the FA WNL Southern Premier Division.
The victory means Oxford have won by a 5-0 scoreline for the fourth game in a row, whilst also making it seven wins from seven without conceding this season.
Before kick-off a minute’s applause was observed at the MGroup Stadium in memory of Matt Beard on the year anniversary of his passing. Beard’s contribution to the women’s game was also paid tribute to in the 13th minute of the match with another minute’s applause to commemorate his achievement of winning back-to-back WSL titles with Liverpool in 2013.
Liam Gilbert named an unchanged starting eleven from last weekend’s 5-0 win over Hashtag United, and his side carried over their form from the last match.
Oxford started the game fast, instantly imposing themselves on Plymouth, with the opening goal coming only four minutes into the game. Sophie Quirk carried on her scoring form from last weekend as she cut in from the left wing, after some beautiful dribbling past the Argyle defence, to leave only the goalkeeper to beat as she calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner with a side-footed shot.
United continued to dominate the proceedings after the goal, and in the 16th minute Quirk almost grabbed her second of the game as she connected with a low cross from Maddie Brant to rattle the crossbar before her headed rebound was saved by the opposition goalkeeper. In the next fifteen minutes the U’s continued to attack the Plymouth goal with a threatening cross from Maisy Barker headed behind for a corner, before a brilliant Oxford press led to a chance for Kate Wiseman who fired narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box.
As the half drew to a close Holly Manders drew multiple saves and blocks from the Argyle defence, and Shaunna Jenkins had a header at the back post tipped over the bar from a corner. The closest United came to doubling their lead before the break was in the 44th minute as a Quirk cross from the right wing drew a shot which was saved on the goal line. The referee blew the whistle for half-time with the Yellows dominant but ultimately unable to add to their lead.
The second half began in the same way as the first with Oxford on top, determined to add to their lead. In the 49th minute, again only four minutes into the half, Manders added a second goal for United which continued her record of scoring in every game so far this season, putting her total goal tally at 14 after only seven games. The goal came from another Quirk cross with Manders’ initial effort blocked before she controlled the rebound and glided past four defenders to leave the goal at her mercy, subsequently slotting the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net from close range.
Only ten minutes after their second goal of the afternoon, the U’s added a third as Quirk scored her second of the game. A dangerous cross came in from the right wing which the away goalkeeper could only parry into the path of Quirk who reacted quickly to force the ball into the net. It took only two minutes after her second for Quirk to complete her hat-trick and make it 4-0 to Oxford, as she tapped the ball home after another Barker cross from the right flew across the face of goal. The goal capped a standout performance from Quirk who looked dangerous every time she was on the ball.
The Yellows continued to have a firm hold on the game after their fourth goal as they searched for more, with their slick passing patterns constantly testing the opposition. Midway through the second half, Liam Gilbert made three changes with Barker, Manders and Wiseman being replaced by Ruby Sealey, Emma Thompson and Ellie-Mae Richardson.
Oxford continued to dominate possession and chances throughout the half with Quirk consistently getting past defenders to put in crosses from the byline. As the match entered the final ten minutes, Sealey began to influence the game with driving runs and through balls to teammates, looking determined to create an opening and make an impact off the bench.
In the 86th minute two final changes took place on the United bench as hat-trick hero Quirk came off for Eva Burgess and Shelly Provan replaced Riva Casley.
As the final minutes of the game ticked down, the U’s continued to create chances, and in the 89th minute Nicola Gibson headed against the bar from a Grace Palmer corner. Oxford wouldn’t give up on finding a fifth goal and finally in the last minute of the game the goal came. A well worked team move culminated with Sealey firing into the goal from just inside the box, her determination proving valuable, with a fitting reward for an already impressive cameo from the bench.
The referee blew the final whistle to confirm United as 5-0 winners, making it five wins from five in the league, with Oxford top of the table.
To watch yesterday’s post-match interviews with Liam Gilbert and Sophie Quirk, please click HERE.
Next up is a return to FA WNL Cup action as Oxford United will be back at the MGroup Stadium to face Arsenal PGA in their final group stage game on Sunday 27 September.
Oxford United: Wookey, Gibson, Casley (Provan 86’), Jenkins, Brant, Wiseman (Richardson 73’), Palmer, Legg, Barker (Sealey 65’), Quirk (Burgess 86’), Manders (Thompson 73’)
Subs: Sieradzka, Powis
Report by Toby Ludbrook
