Louis Louis

An Oxford reserve side featuring seven players who have already seen first team action this season returned a largely unconvincing win against Cardiff City. Jefferson Louis planted a header into the net just before half time from a Danny Brown free-kick for the only goal.

For all the strength on show, few stood out for Oxford, with only a typically committed performance from Andy Crosby and a show of some promise from youth teamer Josias Carbon as an attacking right back worthy of real praise.

Cardiff had much of the play, particularly in the second half, with Oxford often pinned back, although the defence were generally able to handle the limited threat of our old friend Gavin Gordon and Andy Campbell, fresh from being sent off as a sub at the weekend. Expect one of these to arrive on loan by the weekend.

For all their bluster Us ‘keeper Simon Cox had little to do apart from one cracking save on the hour, with most of the Cardiff threat consisting of head-tennis sessions in the box and the odd very wayward shot. Adam Garner was solid alongside Crosby, while David Oldfield, for all his experience, did get caught out a few times as a makeshift left back before limping off on half time.

The problem was not so much defensive frailty as a lack of protection and invention in front of them, meaning the ball kept coming back. A central midfield pairing of Brown and Michael Alexis never really took control and what threat Oxford did have came from wide players ROS Chris Hackett and Mark Rawle, although even their impact was sporadic, as was that of the front pairing of Louis and Derek Townsley. A glimmer of hope came as Jamie Brooks came on for the last 10 minutes and showed his touch and strength are returning.

It was a win, but it is difficult to see what positives the watching Ian Atkins could take out of this game. The positional experiments didn?t appear to work, while some of the senior players in more familiar roles, Crosby aside, did little to force their way into the first team. In particular, the question of who should start up front alongside Steve Basham on Saturday was one for which no clear answer emerged.

Don?t leave early

The Oxford Under-19s side went down to Walsall on Saturday with all three goals coming just before the end of each half. Oxford went one up a minute before half time, but then conceded twice in the dying minutes of the second half.

A strong Walsall side started the better with a couple of early chances, before Oxford took control mid-way through the half. Some great moves came together with the central midfield pairing Brandish and Alexis often involved and Josias Carbon on the right causing havoc. For the next twenty minutes the young Us dominated proceedings with chance after chance going begging, with Alexis somehow lifting over from only a couple of yards out, before Billy Beechers finally slid home a Tom Winters cross.

The second half was a different story with Walsall on top, although the ‘keeper and the woodwork combining to suggest that Oxford were going to hang on to claim the points. However, with just two minutes left on the clock, a ball through the middle was lifted over the ‘keeper for the equaliser. Another scare saw the a shot tipped over, only for the resulting corner to pinball around the box and be poked home for a deserved, if unexpected, winner for the visitors.

Without the presence of Dexter Blackstock the side are struggling in front of goal with first year scholar Beechers still learning, new arrival Craig Davies also finding his feet and second year Taurean O?Sullivan not progressing as hoped.

Meanwhile United’s under-17 team became the first side to win at Colchester this season, winning 3-2 after being 2-0 down. Colchester had their goalkeeper sent off, and Oxford’s first goal came from a thrice-taken penalty, eventually converted by Neil Sparks and during which a second Colchester player was dismissed. Luke Bennett equalised with a cross that was carried into the net on the swirling wind and Bennett got the winner with a header in the final minute.