United went down to a disappointing defeat to third-placed Rugby Borough at Court Place Farm this evening, as two second-half goals from Lily Greenslade and Katie Morris condemned the U’s to a second successive home reverse.
The game started at a blistering pace, with both sides looking to pass the ball around, but it took until the 15th minute before the first shot, with Angelina Nixon blasting over from distance for the visitors. United’s first chance came five minutes later, when Jenna Legg and Zoe Barratt exchanged passes for the former to burst into the area, but a heavy touch enabled Rugby keeper Erin Foley to gather the loose ball.
A free kick in the 25th minute gave Ebony Wiseman a shooting opportunity but her clever drive under United's jumping wall lacked power and was an easy claim for Paris Sercombe. Apart from these rare bursts, neither keeper was particularly troubled in a first half that lacked clear opportunities for either side.
United had an early scare at the start of the second half, as Wiseman cut inside and shot just past the far post. Three minutes later, Saskia Morris carved out an identical opening, with the same outcome.
Rugby continued to be the brighter team after the break, and it was no surprise when Greenslade turned in the area and shot past Sercombe to open the scoring in the 52nd minute.
Oxford almost had the perfect response three minutes later when Ceciley Wellesley-Smith rose highest from a corner and headed goalwards, only for a deflection to take it wide.
Greenslade came within a whisker of doubling the score in the 70th minute with a shot from distance that smashed off the post, but Rugby did grab a second in the 76th minute when Morris nipped in to clip the ball past Sercombe.
There were just three minutes remaining when United carved out their final chance as a great cross from Izzy Cook caused problems in the visitors' area, with loud shouts for a penalty. But nothing was given and Oxford were well beaten in the end.
United: Sercombe, Provan, Wiseman, Wellesley-Smith, Jenkins (Gibson 65), Barratt, King (Cook 83), Oliver, Burridge, Budaieva (Liggett 72), Legg
Att: 103