Oxford United’s reserves were heavily beaten by Southern League Premier Division outfit Banbury United at the Spencer Stadium this evening. The 3-0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game, which the home side dominated for the last hour.

The heavy rain that fell before, during, and after the game made the conditions slippery, and there were quite a few passes zipping around on the damp surface. Oxford started brightly, with Mo Lamine and Tom Winters both looking dangerous as the right and left wing backs. The central defence of Tom Franklin, captain Chris Willmott, and Andy Gunn looked solid, while Yemi Odubade and Billy Beechers were lively up front. In midfield, Daniel Meade was sprightly, although Josh Kennet and Ben Weedon found it difficult to get involved.

However, it all started to go wrong for United when Dermot Gallagher awarded the home side a penalty for a foul by Franklin. Ady Fuller’s spot kick was high to Gareth Tucker’s right, giving the keeper no chance. Minutes later, Yemi looked to have been hauled down in the Banbury penalty area, but Gallagher waved play on, and so United went in at half-time a goal down.

Immediately after the break a Ben Weedon cross had Alan Foster back-peddling to tip it over the bar, and the Us enjoyed a short spell of pressure, but with no end result. Midway through the second half United substitute Aaron Posey gave away a free kick 20 yards out, and Andy Baird got a toe on the end of Jon Gardner’s cross to double the score. United now looked bereft of inspiration, but substitute Jerome Anderson burst through from deep and brought a fine save from Foster. That was it for United, and as the game drifted towards its sodden end, Fuller found himself in acres of space, somehow onside, to smash the ball past substitute keeper Sam Worrell.

This was a decent work out for United’s reserves (and Chris Willmott), with many players playing the full 90 minutes. However, Banbury United looked far too strong for them, and it could be another season of struggle for the second string, reflecting the lack of strength in depth of United’s squad. Still, not too much can be read into a pre-season friendly played in unseasonal conditions, so we won’t bother trying.