Narrow defeat on the final day.

Oxford City 0

Linney 42'

Oxford United 3

Sibley 11'

Goodwin 25'

Brannagam 84'

After three impressive wins in pre-season it was time for City to step up their pre-season test against Championship opponents.

New signings Cole Kpekawa and Corie Andrews were included in a strong line-up for City. Whereas Oxford United Manager Des Buckingham also fielded a strong team with new signings Will Vaulks and Louie Sibley.

The first ten minutes of the game were well contested before United took the lead in the 11^th minute.

Marcus McGuane’s cut-back was perfectly placed for the U’s new signing Louis Sibley to tap home the first goal of the game.

It was 2-0 after 24 minutes. A mistake in the City midfield led to a trialist latching onto a loose ball and threading through Will Goodwin who made no mistake when one on one with Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

City started to grow into the game after a shaky start, not diverting from their principles. Furthermore, the Hoops started to gain a foothold in the game, but they couldn’t find their way past an impressive Jacob Knightbridge.

Brad Stretton came agonisingly close to pulling a goal back a minute before the interval. He cut onto his left foot and unleashed a piledriver of a shot towards goal, but Knightbridge excellently tipped the effort onto the crossbar.

Half-Time: Oxford City 0-2 Oxford United

A crowd of 2,062 were packed into a sun-drenched Court Place Farm, the third highest attendance that the stadium has seen.

Knightbridge was on hand to halt City again in the second-half. This time it was Josh Ashby who came close, before the U’s stopper tipped his stinging shot round the post.

Moreover, City continued to grow into the game and Lewis Coyle was next to try his luck. A clever corner routine meant that Zac McEachran found Coyle on the edge of the box but his driven effort was again denied by the United defence.

Wholesale changes from the away side brought a new impotence to United’s attack.

Cam Brannagan, Ruben Rodrigues, Tyler Goodrham and Gatlin O’Donkor were all introduced to the contest and the balance of play started to shift back into the Yellows’ favour. 

McKenzie-Lyle was being kept busy at the other end of the pitch after he saved Ruben Rodrigues’ effort from range.

Nevertheless, City weren’t to be deterred and Chi Ezennolim was disappointed not to hit the target when he bombed down the left-wing and tried his luck from range.

McKenzie-Lyle was on hand again to deny O’Donkor before the U’s added a third goal. Another error in the defence led to the ball bouncing to Brannagan on the edge of the area and he lobbed the City ‘keeper with aplomb.

Goodhram almost added a fourth in a similar vein moments later, but his effort bounced just wide of the post.

That’s the way it ended on the night, but more importantly, there were more important minutes banked.

Furthermore, the 2,000+ fans inside CPF would’ve enjoyed a competitive game of football between two impressive footballing sides.

We’d like to say a big thank you to Oxford United for their involvement in tonight’s friendly and wish them all the best in the Championship this year.

Attendance: 2,062