Oxford United Women ended their home season this afternoon with a stunning display against Keynsham Town Ladies, who had no answer to the U's constant threat. There were hat-tricks for Beth Lumsden and Carly Johns, while Lily Stevens, Daisy McLachlan and Cheryl Williams all found the net in an all-round excellent display.
United were utterly dominant in the first 45 minutes, racing into a 4-0 lead in the first half hour and adding a fifth just before the break. Keynsham had no answer to United’s clinical attack, while at the other end they were limited to long-range efforts that caused keeper Rose Kite no problems.
United’s unbeaten home record was never in danger and the U’s were in party mood for their final home game of the season. Johns opened the scoring in the 11th minute as she escaped her marker and burst into the area to score with a low angled finish.
Oxford always looked dangerous from set pieces, and Stevens doubled the lead four minutes later as a corner was headed back into the mix by Hannah Mackenzie and the midfielder was on hand to steer the ball home.
The third goal came from the penalty spot after Lumsden was brought down just inside the area. Oxford’s leading scorer picked herself up to take responsibility and sent the Keynsham keeper the wrong way to increase her tally for the season to 20. McLachlan, who had been a constant menace all half, underlined her threat as she beat the offside trap and coolly swerved past the keeper to bury the ball in the empty net.
It looked like that was the end of the scoring in the first half, but Johns had other ideas and just before the break she scored a goal almost identical to her first to ensure that there was no way back for Keynsham, with the U’s rampant.
The second half opened in a similar vein, with Lumsden racing through to grab her second of the game just five minutes after the restart. And eight minutes later she completed her hat-trick with another clinical finish as Keynsham, with no substitutes to call on, visibly wilted.
United's pressure was relentless and they forced corner after corner in the second period. It eventually paid off with just over ten minutes remaining, when Johns joined Lumsden in the hat-trick club, as she had a simple finish after Lumsden squared the ball to her with just the keeper to beat.
Despite using all five substitutions, there was no reprieve for Keynsham as the U's continued to look to add to the scoreline. They eventually made it nine when a driving run and cross by Megan Alexander was finished by substitute Cheryl Williams.
That concluded the scoring, but only because the visiting keeper made an excellent save to deny McLachlan in stoppage time.
No more home games this season, but the women are back in action next Sunday at Bridgwater. See you there!
United: Kite, Mackenzie (Wallace 69), Beaver (Gilmore 79), Sims, Alexander, King (Will 69), Haynes, Stevens (Baker 79), McLachlan, Johns (Williams 79), Lumsden
Att: 180
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photos: Simon Godfrey.