A solitary first-half goal from Alex Fisher after 22 minutes was enough to secure Oxford's reserves their first win of the season against Stevenage Borough's reserves at Didcot this evening. United's second string was comprised mainly of the under-18 side that won its league championship recently, while Stevenage's stiffs didn't look much older. Oxford's most senior player was goalkeeper Chris Tardif, while outfield Andy Gunn, Josh Kennet, Greg Coombes, and Billy Beechers provided what little experience they possessed to keep the kids on track.

The first half was a fairly even affair, with the first fifteen minutes played in a blinding snowstorm, which disappeared to leave two lively and competitive sides knocking the ball around to good effect. However, it was the home side that was creating the better chances, although diminutive goalie Jamie Brewitt was rarely troubled by Oxford's shooting, which was generally off target. Billy Beechers, eager to impress the watching Jim Smith, did have one effort cannon off a post before Fisher was on hand to poach a goal following some pinball from a United corner. Aaron Gonzalez, who had come on for the injured Tommy Franklin, had one effort that went narrowly over, while Tardif was mainly a spectator.

In the second half Oxford continued to be the team that looked most likely to score, but still without giving Brewitt too much work to do. Typically, Beechers saved his best bit of skill for the start of the half, when Smith had yet to take his seat, but the young forward made too many mistakes, either out of frustration or because he was trying too hard to make an impression. His striker partner Fisher, on the other hand, had an assured game that belied his tender years, although he was ably supported by both Andrew Younie and Daniel Meade on the flanks. Younie was replaced by (a young) Paul Wanless lookalike Josh Mulvany, formerly of this parish until stolen by Southampton, but back trying to earn a contract for next season. Beechers was replaced by Declan Benjamin three minutes from time, and despite a brief flurry from Stevenage Oxford saw out the time to earn themselves a rare three points.

This was a decent display by United's youngsters, many of whom were sporting shaven heads courtesy of a Comic Relief stunt, which made identification occasionally problematic. Coombes, who must have wondered why he bothered to come to Oxford from Cardiff just to swap one reserves side for another, had a decent game in the middle of the park, doing the simple things well, although he took a while to get going, as did Kennet alongside him. At the back Gunn was his usual solid self, despite a couple of sliced clearances, while Chris Weedon, who started in midfield before dropping to fullback, had a generally excellent game. James Clarke was another youngster who looks like he might have a decent future, providing he doesn't fall foul of the two-year scholarship scheme, which leaves many of the youth side anxiously trying to earn a contract a season or so before they're really ready for it.