Celebrating Nicole Barrett’s winning goal against Exeter City. Photo: Liam Faulkner

There was something in the air at the MGroup Stadium on Sunday, and I don’t mean the rain (although that was there too, in droves).

It was something akin to joy. Not just the joy of a hard-fought but eventually well-deserved win, but simply the joy expressed by a team in yellow playing some excellent entertaining football and the joy of the crowd watching a game that lacked the cynicism you get in the men’s professional game.

Watching Oxford United Women play is a rather lovely antidote to watching the men’s senior team. Obviously the rewards in the women’s game, especially in the third tier, are less significant than in the second tier of the men’s game, but the whole approach of the women’s team and the fans is a refreshing change to the stress and seriousness of Championship football.

The most disappointing aspect of yesterday’s game was that there were just 181 hardy souls in attendance. Scant reward for a side deserving so much more. Clearly, the weather was a factor but it is unlikely the attendance would be much over 250 if it had been a bright sunny day. Marketing may be another reason for the low turn out; you’re not going to get people going to the game if they’re unaware it’s taking place.

However, I can’t help feeling there are deeper issues at play. There’s always been a kind of ‘snobbishness’ about women’s football, with afficionados of the men’s game believing it to be an inferior product. I would suggest that those expressing such views have never seen a women’s game, at least without their prejudicial hats on.

I get that it can be difficult to commit your whole weekend to football, and after watching the men play against a former Premier League side in an 11,000+ crowd on the Saturday it can be hard justifying going to watch a third-tier women’s game watched by a crowd little over one per cent of that.

My contention, though, is that the Oxford United Women’s team is representing the badge and the city as much as the men’s team, albeit at a lower level. If you’re a die-hard Oxford United supporter, you really should make the effort to get down to the MGroup Stadium (formerly Court Place Farm, by the Northern Bypass) and watch Sam Rose’s side. They are a joy to watch and they deserve your support.