Oxford United Women made it three consecutive wins under Manager Liam Gilbert as they beat Gwalia United 4-1 at the MGroup Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Oxford raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to strikes from Emma Thompson and Holly Manders. However, just before half-time Casi Gregson pulled a goal back for the visitors. With just over 10 minutes remaining, the game turned when Thompson was held inside the penalty area, with Grace Palmer converting the resultant spot kick. Thompson then scored her second goal of the afternoon to wrap up the points.
The game began in a torrential downpour, although both sides tried their best to play neat passing football. United had the better of the possession and looked lively from the start and they were good value for their 25th minute lead, Thompson converting Manders’ cross with a neat flick.
Just four minutes later, Manders got herself on the scoresheet, converting from close range after a bit of a scramble in the Gwalia area, with the ball eventually touched towards her by Maisy Barker.
Oxford were cruising and looking to add to their tally, but a loose pass was seized upon by Gregson, whose drive from range was pinpoint to beat Beth Wookey’s dive to halve the deficit in time for the break.
As in the first half, the U’s started the second period brightly and continued to apply pressure on the Gwalia back line, with keeper Benedicte Haaland having to smother the ball at the second attempt from a Barker shot, and Riva Casley heading a corner narrowly over.
In the 79th minute, the assistant referee spotted a Gwalia player holding Thompson in the area and he alerted the referee, who awarded United a penalty. Up stepped Palmer to convert after a short run up, allowing the players and supporters the opportunity to breathe a biteasier.
Five minutes later, substitute and birthday girl Ruby Sealey outpaced a defender and delivered a perfect cross to Thompson, who clinically put the game to bed with her second and Oxford’s fourth goal.
United could have added to the scoreline when Palmer whipped in a free kick from distance only to see the ball rebound from the crossbar, the fourth time the U’s had hit the frame of the goal.
Deep into stoppage time, 16-year-old Abbie Carpenter came off the bench for her first Yellows appearance, having come through the player development pathway.
After the match, Gilbert said: “It was nice to see us come up with different solutions to problems the opposition posed for us. Some of our combinations were excellent and it was nice to see the girls try something different if something wasn’t working.
“They had a positive attitude, both with and without the ball. The goals were all different, which is always good because you’re not relying on one set picture or one set player, which is quite pleasing for the coaching staff.
“For me, it’s been a great few weeks, the way the girls have taken on board what’s been asked of them, and I’m really happy with them. And it was great to see Abbie making her senior debut after coming through the club system.”
The win lifts Oxford to sixth in the FAWNL Southern Premier League, but there is a break from league action next Sunday when United welcome third-placed Plymouth Argyle back to the MGroup Stadium for the third round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. Don’t miss it – it’s bound to be a superb afternoon’s entertainment.
UNITED: Wookey, Gibson (Sealey 65), Provan (Trinder 74), Wiseman, Casley, Barrett, Thompson, Jenkins (Carpenter 90+4), Palmer, Barker, Manders (Bedeau 83)
