Oxford United Women took full advantage against bottom-of-the-table Billericay Town, scoring ten goals without reply to leave the visitors still without a point in the WNL Southern Premier League.
Kate Wiseman had already had a header disallowed for offside before Emma Thompson broke the deadlock in the ninth minute. Holly Manders doubled the lead a quarter of an hour later and Maisy Barker made it 3-0 after a further ten minutes. Captain Naomi Bedeau made it four in first-half stoppage time as Billericay had no answer to Oxford’s goal threat.
The second half was less than two minutes old before Manders scored her second of the afternoon, and Thompson added her second just three minutes later. It took United until the 70th minute before Thompson completed her hat-trick, and Barker made it 8-0 with 15 minutes remaining. Manders smashed the ball into the top corner from a short free kick with four minutes to go to match Thompson’s hat-trick feat, and substitute Nic Gibson rounded off the scoring deep into stoppage time.
The scoreline didn’t flatter the U’s, who could have added to their tally on numerous occasions but for a poor final ball or some wayward finishing. As for the unfortunate Billericay, they came up against an Oxford side on top form and could muster only one shot in the match, a free kick that was a routine take for goalkeeper Beth Wookey. However, they battled until the end even when their task was a hopeless one.
United achieved the three things they set out to do: get the three points, keep a clean sheet, and dramatically improve their goal difference. Indeed, this was the first time since March 2019 that the Yellows have scored double figures in a Southern League Premier game, the only other time being a 12-0 win over C&K Basildon Ladies, the precursors of Hashtag United (an 11-0 win over Hounslow in October 2019 was voided due to the Covid pandemic).
Oxford United Women are at home again this Sunday as they welcome Chelsea PGA in the WNL Cup. Come along and watch a United side high in confidence and with an added killer instinct in front of goal.
UNITED: Wookey, Wiseman (Richardson 53), Bedeau (Gibson 53), Casley, Barrett, Legg, Thompson, Jenkins (Provan 77), Palmer (Sealey 67), Barker, Manders
