An Oxford United youth side visited Hellenic Premier League club Ardley United, and won 1-0 thanks to a tenth minute goal from wunderkind Billy Beechers. The game was United’s first public pre-season fixture, and it marked the opening of Ardley’s new club house. Before the match there was a blast from the past as Ardley joint manager Paul Berry and United’s Youth Development Officer Les Taylor, former team-mates from the mid-70s at the Manor, walked together to the dug-outs.

Beechers gave United the lead when he sprung the home side’s offside trap, but that was the only time in first period that home keeper Paul Tassell was troubled. At the other end Gareth Tucker did well to deny the Ardley strikers on a couple of occasions, and they also hit the post once.

In the second half the game opened up a bit, and Tassell did well to save from substitute Ryan Brooks, who was clean through on goal. Kyle McCoy also came close for United, while Tucker again did well to deny the Ardley forwards more than once. This was a good work-out for the kids, who impressed with their organisation and their passing. The pace of McCoy and Daryl Harris, and the guile of Beechers, who was wearing the captain’s armband, often troubled the Ardley defence, while Josh Kennet impressed in midfield.