Away victory for City U13's

The U13's travelled to Oxford City's impressive facility and came away with all three points

Q1
Playing on a superb surface both teams attempted to play the game on the floor and use the space but City from the off pressed the home side high at every opportunity and winning the ball back when not in possession. Unfortunately the final ball was lacking quality to often in the opening exchanges. The home side had the first chance of scoring when some hesitation in the centre of defence allowed the home striker to nip the ball past the defence and run clear in on the city goal. Zac Watkins stood firm and pulled off a good save to deny Oxford the lead.
The centre of midfield was once again being dominated by the pairing of Henry Guy and Jay Bennet and City were looking dangerous down the right flank with the pace of Joe Layland and Jake Brookes. Brookes had an effort from a short corner comfortably saved by the keeper before the visitors took the lead in the 10th minute. Layland produced a strong run down the right beating a couple of players before playing a neat ball to the feet of Hayden Russell, the big striker showed a great touch and control before setting the ball back to Guy on the edge of the area who then curled in a superb long range effort into the top corner. Oxford continued to play from the back and were gaining in confidence with some neat passing but they couldn't break through the city defence of Josh Francis, Fin Mcglen, Josh Sanders and Layland who stood strong as the quarter ended 1-0 to the visitors.

Q2
The home side started the second quarter on the front foot as City continued to give the ball away with some sloppy passing and conceding needless free kicks. Against the run of play City doubled their lead in the 28th minute when the lively Ash Doyle was brought down on the edge of the area after a neat ball from Francis. Doyle dusted himself off before striking an unstoppable effort into the top left corner giving the keeper no chance. City settled a little after the second goal and further chances fell to Brookes who's effort struck the bar with Doyle having the rebound superbly saved by the keeper. Mcglen and Adam Willis were having some success down the left flank and combined well with Mcglen crossing superbly to the advancing Brookes who's header was again saved well by the home keeper. Oxford continued to get a foothold in the game but couldn't break down the city defence in which Francis was dominating in the aerial battles as the quarter ended 2-0 to the visitors.

Q3
City made some changes bringing on Chester Hooper at right back and Rafe Green up top and Hooper settled in superbly linking well with Brookes down the right causing problems for the home defence. Hooper and Russel linked well to produce a cross for Mcglen but his effort went wide. City were now completely dominating and scored the first of their five goals in this quarter in the 43rd minute when Green found himself in the clear and he won the foot race with the defender before slotting the ball home low past the advancing keeper. Two minutes later Green grabbed his second after Sanders won the ball and played a slide rule pass to Green who neatly rolled his defender and tucked the ball under the keeper. Oxford had a chance to get a goal back with a free kick but they were denied by an excellent save by Luis Hudson in the City goal. The visitors continued to impress with Willis, Guy and Hooper all causing problems. Russell was unlucky as he attempted an ambitious overhead kick before the hard working Brookes got his name on the score sheet in the 54th minute. The impressive Willis put Russel through on goal but his effort was superbly saved but Brookes was on hand to smash the rebound into the roof of the net. Two minutes later City got their sixth goal from a corner when Francis struck the bar with a strong header and the rebound was nodded over the line by Bennet. The scoring was completed in the 58th minute when Brookes and Hooper combined to put Russell in on goal and he neatly lobbed the oncoming keeper. Right on the whistle Oxford were again denied by a neat save from Hudson as the quarter ended 7-0 to City

Q4
The final quarter saw the visitors camped in Oxfords half but they couldn't add to their tally mainly down to some superb saves from the home keeper who denied Green getting his hat trick with a great tip round the post before denying Guy with a brave save at his feet. Russell struck the cross bar with a curling effort as the game ended 7-0 to the visitors.

Awards
Gold - Adam Willis
Silver - Henry Guy
Bronze - Rafe Green