Thanks to Jon Moore for this report

It took just three minutes for triallist Danny Morgan to make his mark for the reserves last night against Bristol Rovers. Morgan and fellow Franchise FC youngsters Ryan Mouter and Mark E?Beyer all started for the U?s and were quick to catch the eye, with Mouter playing Morgan through to open the scoring.

Barry Quinn and Julian Alsop added some experience to a fairly young side and Alsop was involved straight away with a layoff to Mouter in the build up to the first, and a powerful header from a Tom Winters corner to score the second after just 5 minutes. Jools was competitive and showed a good attitude throughout, racing back to add cover at a corner. He was also keen to interact with the young triallists, calling both ?young?un? in midfield, and ?greedy fucker? by name.

Quinn preformed well in the middle, giving the three youngsters their head, and by the time he departed after an hour it looked as though he had played his way into contention for Saturday?s game at Macclesfield.

Bristol settled somewhat after the second goal and came more into the game, with Ryan Williams and Lee Hodges looking good in the wide midfield positions. But with the Franchise trio displaying good touches and interplay, and Winters looking lively down the left the momentum was clearly with Oxford and on the half hour they went three up. Quinn played in Morgan who was felled by the keeper, and Quinn slotted home the subsequent penalty.

It was not all one way, but the U?s deserved their half-time lead, with a teenage back four handling everything thrown at them leaving ?keeper Bradie Clarke without a serious save to make. In particular centre-half Adam Garner showed why he is favourite to be offered a senior deal when he graduates this summer

The second half started more evenly and ten minutes in Bristol pulled one back with a well-taken shot from the edge of the area creeping inside the post. The final outcome hinged on events just after the hour as Rovers pushed for a second. Clarke pulled off a point blank stop from O?Connor and almost immediately Quinn put Morgan through again who slotted home after hitting the post with his first attempt.

Right back Josias Carbon gave away a penalty at the three-quarter mark, converted by Arndale, but he redeemed himself as part of a three-man move down the right-hand side, which led to Morgan thumping home for his hat-trick. Oxford kept the pressure on for remainder of the half with Morgan hitting the post, and sub Michael Alexis unable to stab the ball home after being set-up by Alsop. Rovers also kept going with Haldane shooting wide after a good run and Arndale slotting home a second penalty, after a foul by Garner, with ten minutes to go, to make the final score 5-3.

This performance will have given the watching Graham Rix, and the other scouts present, quite a bit to think about. The Franchise triallists all showed good signs, with Morgan the pick and triallist ?keeper Clarke doing everything that was asked of him. Alsop showed what he is still capable of and Quinn looks ready for a first team return. Oxford?s youth crop continues to develop, with Winters and Garner again the best on the night.