Oxford City Women kicked off their home campaign with a thrilling 2-1 win over Winchester Flyers at Court Place Farm this afternoon.

An early Kaitlyn Crouch goal was cancelled out by Emily McDonough in the second half before a red card for Winchester invited late pressure and Anaya Gray drilled home a winner to give the Hoops four points from two games.

After an encouraging draw on the opening day away at Soling there was a hugely supportive crowd of over 250 of to see City turn the tables and get off to a flyer of their own when Crouch let fly from long distance in just the third minute to give the Hoops an early lead. 

That was a fair reflection on the opening stages but Winchester found their feet and started to come into the game, forcing Grace Amos into a couple of good saves and hitting the post in an entertaing first half that saw Ellie White denied by the visiting keeper from City’s best chance. 

Winchester continued to press with Xiomara Wellington-Faissal marshalling the City back line well but on 55 minutes the away side were level when McDonough closed Amos down and the ball ran kindly for the forward to chase it into the unguarded net to level things at 1-1. 

City responded and with twenty minutes to go were facing ten players when Winchester's Wilkinson  was shown a red card for dissent and/or taking too long to leave the field as she was substituted.

 White, whose running from deep caused problems all game, again got in behind the defence but hit the post  after 77 minutes and a superb cross from Emma Donohoe evaded everyone on an increasingly packed Winchester area.

A winner was coming and with eight minutes left Gray seized on a loose ball and cleverly beat the last defender before smashing her shot into the roof of the net to make it 2-1.

A fine win in a good game of football. Long way to go but a very encouraging start. 

 

CITY

Amos, Hume, Wellington-Faissal Healy, Tayman (O’Leary 25), Le Beau, Bradley, E White, L White, Donohoe, Crouch (Gray 15) 

SUBS 
O’Leary, Kehayova, Walecki 

Att: 253 

Report by Chris Williams pictures Simon Godfrey