Oxford City Women suffer opening day set-back to Eastleigh.

Eastleigh 3

Bates 18'

O'Reily 29'

Shorter 88'

Oxford City 1

Healy 26'

Oxford City Women's started the Southern Regional Women's Football League season with a defeat to Eastleigh on Sunday.

In a tight match, Luke Hanshaw's side put up a good fight, but despite Georgia Healy's first goal of the season, the Hoops couldn't find a way past a resolute Eastleigh defence.

First-Half

City had to come from behind to equalise, after the Spitfires took the lead in the 19th minute.

A counter-attack down the left-wing created enough space for a cross into the box, and that left Striker Chelsea Bates with the simplest of finishes to tap home the opener.

However, City weren't to be dismayed and were behind for just eight minutes. Jess Biggerstaff did well to intercept a sloppy Eastleigh pass and find Ellie White.

White's shot was well-blocked but the rebound fell nicely for Georgia Healy who smashed home her first goal for City to open her account for the club.

Although, the equaliser was short-lived. This time it was the hosts who would capitalise on a sloppy pass. Amber O'Reily was the lucky recipient for the hosts and she made no mistake when bearing down on goal to restore Eastleigh's lead.

Second-half

The game started to heat up after the interval and Annie Dennis was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball incident with an Eastleigh player.

City continued to push for a way back into the game but they couldn't find a way past an Eastleigh defence who continued to frustrate the Hoops attackers.

However, eventually the three points were sealed in two minutes from time. Katie Shorter managed to add a third for the hosts, a goal that consigned City to defeat in the season opener.

A tough result to take after such a tightly-contested fixture, but now the girls set their sights on another away trip to Wycombe Wanderers in SRWFL as they look to bounce back at the first attempt.