What a game for the Oxford United Women’s team, smashing ten goals past a hapless Billericay side that must have wondered why they bothered to get on their bus in the first place, never mind getting off it once they arrived in Oxford.

United were in top form from the off, using a quick press and forcing the poor Billericay back line into numerous errors. I won’t give a blow-by-blow account of the goals as they went in – we haven’t got all day – but suffice to say that Oxford could have had three or four more than the four they managed to convert before the break, such was their dominance.

As well as capitalising on the visitors’ defensive errors, there were some tidy finishes in there too. None more so than the goal that made it 9-0 and earned Holly Manders her hat-trick. Nicole Barrett was fouled just outside the penalty area, about five yards from the byline. Barrett touch the ball a couple of yards to Manders, who smashed the ball past poor Alix Railston in the visitors’ goal. And that wasn’t even the last time she had to pick the ball out the back of the net.

Oxford also scored a couple of goals disallowed for offside in addition to the ten legitimate goals as they managed to haul up their goal difference from -2 to +8 and lifted themselves to fifth in the table, albeit still eight points behind new league leaders Watford as Bournemouth could only draw at Plymouth.

Oxford opened the scoring in the ninth minute and were 4-0 up at the break. As well as Manders, Emma Thompson also bagged a hat-trick; surely one to make into a Hollywood blockbuster. Did any United player have a poor game? You could argue that goalkeeper Beth Wookey hardly got into the action, only having one straightforward shot to save all afternoon, but that might be a bit harsh as Billericay never looked like troubling her.

What next for the U’s? Unfortunately, the side isn’t back in league action until a midweek trip to second-placed Bournemouth on 29th October. Before that, they are at home to Chelsea Academy in the WNL Cup next Sunday and then away to Hashtag in the WFA Cup the following weekend. Their next home league game is on 2nd November against current league leaders Watford. A couple of big league games to come, but if Oxford can replicate today’s form, who knows!

Whatever, I urge everyone who is interested in following sides that represent the U’s badge to get on down to Court Place Farm and give the women’s side your support. You could be in for a treat (and a welcome antidote to the stress brought on by watching the men’s side).