Hellenic League XI 4 (Hamp 2 Lewis McKay (OG)) Oxford United 0

I wonder if OUFC have thought about giving a small
prize to all fans attending all eleven pre-season
friendlies. Thinking about it, they should be giving a
prize to all those supporters who had to put up with
this performance. In fact it does the club no favours
by the fact that we sent such a weak, disinterested
side to game that obviously meant so much to some
people. The truth is that OUFC got the beating they
deserved, and only David Oldfield looked like a full
time professional. Far too many of the others thought
this was going to be a Sunday afternoon stroll.
They were given a rude awakening on 15 minutes when a
lob from former U's striker Adam Hamp caught Cox too
far off his line to open the scoring.
Mark Rawle's jinking run set up Blackstock who stabbed
weakly wide, before on 19 minutes the Hellenic league
created a massive goalmouth scramble. Lewis stabbed
home at the second attempt but was ruled marginally
offside. A Ciampoli free kick drifted wide of the back
post before Lewis finally got his goal on 27 minutes.
Once again it took 2 attempts at a goalmouth scramble,
and there was more than a hint of a foul on Cox, but
frankly the defence had had ample time to clear their
lines.
Oxford roused themselves briefly as Van Dommele saw
his header cleared off the line by Clayton. The ball
ran nicely to Omoyinmi but his lack of composure in
front of goal continued and he fired wide.
A strong Oldfield run through the midfield set up
Blackstock but his game was rapidly descending into a
nightmare and he blasted well over.
On 38 minutes bad became ridiculous as Hamp turned and
fired from 20 yards. The shot was low and not
massively strong but Cox conspired to let it slip
underneath his body, and Swinedon fan Alder could
barely suppress his glee.
The Hellenic were doing the simple things well and
United were unable or unwilling to compete even on
this level. Omoyinmi fired wide again, and a Ciampoli
free kick could have been headed home by Rawle if only
he'd bothered to dive for it. Half time came and no
one could have argued with the score.
It was no surprise that Cox was replaced for the
second half and perhaps if a larger and stronger squad
had been assembled then more than the initial 4
substitutions would have happened.
Either way United tightened up considerably but it was
still obvious that the Hellenic Leaguers wanted it
more. Curtin's turn and shot whistled just past the
left corner, but on 63 minutes the Hellenic League got
their winner in bizarre circumstances. Hamp challenged
for a ball over the top but McKay got there first and
watched in horror as his header looped in over Dixon.
United even managed to blow their one chance of
respectability as Blackstock was chopped down for a
penalty. Blackstock stepped up, but Henley Town's
Gosby was able to comfortably dive to his left to save
the weak effort. I wonder if any Premiership scouts
were watching?
A nice passing move found Alexis 6 yards out with only
Gosby to beat. He attempted to walk the ball in and
Gosby was able to save easily.
McKay tried for a little redemption by shooting from
18 yards but Gosby saved well.
Oxford's passing was poor and the final ball still
worse. Webb decided to show then how to do it by
dancing thought the defence before shooting wide.
Manager Gary Goodwin yelled out, "Archie Gemmill!" and
you could see his point!
United who now were fielding almost exclusively
teenagers, and a Beechers shot from the edge of the
box produced another good save from Gosby, before
Keeble hit the bar following a corner. Van Dommele
limped off with an injured right knee but by this time
the U's fans were thinking about hitting the bar.
Let's hope we send a better side to Studley.