Ah, football is back.
Oxford got their pre-season campaign underway with a leisurely 2-1
win at sun-drenched Ardley United. The yellows fielded a separate XI
in each half, allowing almost everyone to get 45 minutes under their
belts. New signings Jonathan Meades, David Hunt, Tom Newey and Dave
Kitson made their debuts with the returning Asa Hall and Danny Rose
also featuring. In addition, trialists Matt Heath (previously of
Colchester), Matt Bevans (Watford) and Kenzer Lee (West Ham) also got
a run out.
No one expects to see a
full-blooded contest in the first pre-season friendly of the summer,
so it was little surprise that the game started off slowly with the
Oxford players taking their time to get into a passing rhythm.
Oxford, shooting down the considerable slope at Ardley's Playing
Fields ground, had the first chance as Tyrone Marsh latched onto Sean
Rigg's cross but could keep it down and the ball rocketed over the
bar.
Ardley responded with the
best chance of the half after some sloppy defensive work as Clarke
was forced to rush out of his goal to meet a short backpass and,
seizing the opportunity, Troy Bryan fired the ball towards the
unguarded net and was unlucky to see his shot cannon back off the
underside of the bar.
Oxford's defence were
rarely troubled for the rest of the first half and although they
created a few half-chances to take the lead, with Meades going close
from a header and Marsh shooting into the keeper's arms, in truth
neither side really looked like scoring in a pleasant but uneventful
first half.
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| Picture from @OUFCGoldenBoy |
Oxford's second half XI
looked far more lively, with Dave Kitson and Callum O'Dowda standing
out in particular. Kitson made an impression immediately, chasing
down the Ardley goalkeeper and then squaring the ball to Alfie Potter
whose deflected left-footed shot found the net to give Oxford the
lead.
O'Dowda was looking lively
out on the left, beating several defenders with a mazy run before
crossing for Deane Smalley, but the ball was played just too far in
front for the striker to reach it and finish what would have been a
spectacular move.
Ardley seemed unable to
get into the visitors' half despite the assistance of the slope but
they drew level on one rare foray into the Oxford area after being
awarded a soft penalty for a push. Ryan Brooks (brother of Jamie)
fired home the equaliser.
Oxford continued to look
the better side but despite spending a lot of time around the Ardley
area they seemed unable to convert their possession into clear-cut
chances. Smalley, who put himself about well all afternoon, was
unlucky to see his curling effort tipped wide by the goalkeeper in
the dying minutes, but finally got his reward from the resulting
corner, escaping his man and heading powerfully home.
Minutes later the referee
blew the final whistle and the Oxford fans who made up the vast
majority of the 670 attendance went home happy. Ardley were the
perfect opposition for the occasion – competitive but not overly
physical and they gave us a thoroughly good workout. A good day all
round.
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| Picture from @maybejames |
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