Oxford United U18 4 Exeter City U18 2

George Dugdale

United's youth team came from behind to earn a twelfth win in a row in league and cup thanks to braces from Callum O'Dowda and James Roberts against Exeter City.

Chris Allen again opted to introduce new faces into his side with right back Shaquille Boreland and goalkeeper Kieran Beesley earning starts for the U18s. Marvin Ekpiteta returned to league action after injury.

United have been in splendid form this season and took an early lead through Callum O'Dowda. James Roberts did brilliantly to beat his man on the left wing and his pull-back was stroked home by his strike partner to give United the perfect start.

The hosts dominated possession after the goal but were pegged back within ten minutes. Exeter won a corner and the Kamarl Duncan bundled the ball home at the far post to level against the run of play.

United were handed the perfect opportunity to regain the lead from the spot after O'Dowda was tripped as he tried to gather James Roberts' pass, but his penalty flew over the crossbar.

The hosts were seemingly unsettled by the miss and Exeter began to grow in confidence in the middle of the field as captain Matt Grimes got his foot on the ball. United goalkeeper Beesley had to be alert to deny a low effort as the Oxford defence was threatened by Exeter striker Ollie Watkins' powerful surge.

O'Dowda sent a volley flying wide of the post, but it was Exeter who got their noses in front. Grimes did well on the left to find Watkins and his curling effort nestled into the bottom right corner of Beesley's net.

United had not reached the levels they are used to in the first half and the animated Allen set about organising a second half turnaround at the break. The United coach had been visibly frustrated by his side's sloppiness in possession and sent his team back onto the pitch a number of minutes before the Exeter side.

The message had an effect on United and they were level early in the half. Roberts powered into the penalty area and was tripped on his way towards goal. This time United's top scorer took the kick himself and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to level the scores.

An injury to Josh Ashby saw Duran Martin come on after an hour, whilst there was also a welcome return from injury for Greg Hackett on the wing.

United were vastly improved in possession of the ball but the visitors were able to pose a threat on the break. Beesley denied Watkins with his feet as the striker continued to cause Oxford problems.

Roberts lifted the ball wide of the post when released by O'Dowda's pass after excellent pressing by Sam Humphreys, but got his goal seconds later. Humphreys set the ball back to Roberts on the edge of the area and his curling effort found the back of the net via a combination of post and goalkeeper Christy Pym. We doubt Pym wants to claim it, so that's a second for Roberts in our book.

The striker was denied a hat-trick by a smart save from Pym, but it was 4-2 moments later as the work ethic of the front pairing paid off. Roberts chased down a backpass and Pym's clearance was intercepted by O'Dowda outside the area. As the ball sat up, he calmly lifted it over goalkeeper and defenders with his right foot to double his tally.

Exeter searched for a route back into the game in the latter stages and Watkins was denied by a superb block from Dave Lynn as he wriggled free.

United saw out the remaining seconds comfortably to pick up a hard-fought victory against difficult opposition. The boys visit Swindon Town next weekend, before taking on Barnsley in the FA Youth Cup on December 11th.

United: Beesley, Boreland (Wright, 80), Long, Ekpiteta, Lynn, Humphreys, Ashby (Martin, 60), Udumaga, Hughes (Hackett, 60), O'Dowda, Roberts.