United played their first pre-season friendly this afternoon in a behind-closed-doors match against swindondown. The game took place in swindon, and Oxford comprehensively beat the other lot 3-0.

United’s first goal was scored by Lee Bradbury, who was playing in his preferred role up front. Craig Davies headed home a Dave Mackay cross to double the lead, and Stuart Beavon, on trial from Didcot, completed the scoring after sending the dummy the wrong way, or was it that he dummied the keeper?

Every fit player had a game against swindon’s full first team, and a bunch of youth and triallists, with United’s new players acquitting themselves well. Obviously it’s still too early to tell how this will be carried forward into real games, against proper opposition, but at least it gives United supporters more gloating rights for the time-being. Meanwhile, United’s youth team are playing at Ardley United tomorrow afternoon, admission ?5.