Oxford United 1 AFC Bournemouth 0

George Dugdale

Oxford United's youth team began their Football League Youth Alliance Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory over AFC Bournemouth thanks to Sam Humphreys' first half strike.

United began the game brightly and came close to opening the scoring after a lovely passing move. Quick, short passes were exchanged on the left flank and opened up the space for left-back David Lynn to slice an effort wide of the near-post.

James Roberts was the next to threaten the Bournemouth goal when he span his marker on the halfway line, before driving towards goal. His low drive was on target and only a fingertip save prevented the in-form striker from adding to his tally for the season.

It wasn't long until the home side capitalised on this bright period of play. Jermaine Udumaga freed Humphreys on the edge of the area and his low drive beat the goalkeeper to his left to give Oxford the lead on the half-hour mark.

It could have been two moments later as Udumaga's pass found Roberts, but his first-time drive flew into the bushes behind the goal.

Bournemouth were exhibiting the short passing game that is a feature of their youth sides, but Chris Allen's boys are a well-organised outfit and prevented the visitors from testing goalkeeper Eddie Cavanagh in a tightly contested first half.

United began the second half slowly and captain Sam Long had to be alert to block after a Bournemouth striker had wriggled free in the Oxford area.

Udumaga was then denied by a fine save after good work by Callum O'Dowda on the break, before Roberts saw his own curling effort tipped over the bar by a busy Bournemouth goalkeeper.

The home side were having to work hard to deny Bournemouth space as they continued to probe around the Oxford area and Cavanagh twice saved comfortably when shots came in from range.

As the game entered the final stages, space was opening up for Oxford on the counter-attack. When substitute Jacob Hughes won the ball in the Bournemouth half, he squared for Roberts to resume his battle with the visiting goalkeeper. Roberts was denied once more as the goalkeeper raced from the line to block with his legs.

Bournemouth spent the final few minutes applying pressure to the Oxford goal, but the defence was superbly marshalled by Long and threw their bodies in the way of everything that came their way.

With the final action of the game Bournemouth won a header from a corner, but Cavanagh flung himself to his right to tip the ball over the bar and guarantee the win.

Oxford United: Cavanagh, Wright, Long, Niangasa, Lynn (Hughes 70), Humphreys, Martin, Ashby, O'Dowda, Udumaga, Roberts.