City Claim MGroup Town v Gown Honours.

Oxford City were crowned victors of both the women’s and men’s MGroup Town v Gown on an entertaining evening of football in OX3.

The women’s fixture got underway first, with an exciting clash seeing the Hoops turn an early deficit into a 4-1 win. In that, the visitors took the lead on four minutes, Sean Luk tucking home from the penalty spot to steal the early advantage. 

It didn’t take Ellie White long to level, however, as she slotted home from a tight angle on 13 minutes. Both sides then looked bright, but it was City who were more clinical, with a quick-fire double from Ellie Walecki seeing City in at the half with a two-goal advantage. Two fine efforts, both from range, both unstoppable, came in the 42nd and 43rd minutes for Walecki, setting her well on her way to the player of the match honour. 

There was to be one more goal in the clash, in what was an end-to-end second half, as White impressed by lifting over both the oncoming keeper to round off the scoring on 73 minutes, completing City’s turnaround. 

The men’s clash then got underway and, in similar fashion to the women’s, a penalty was awarded within the opening five minutes. This time it fell the way of City, with Westendorf knocking home the rebound of his initially saved effort to take the lead. Forestieri doubled that lead shortly after, turning in a low Daniel cross from the goalmouth on 14 minutes. 

Oxford University were able to claw one back, as Fin Cairns headed home a 29th-minute corner, but McEachran ensured his side went in at the break with a two-goal advantage, flicking home from the goalmouth on 39 minutes to make it 3-1 at the half. 

Taylor got back on the scoresheet in a quieter second half, with Smith doing excellently on 56 minutes to deliver from the right, and Taylor arriving to push across the line in City’s fourth. Then came the fifth, as Smith charged through, one-on-one with the keeper, his effort being struck off the inside of the post and in on 78 minutes, the last in a six-goal thriller at the MGroup. 

City Women XI: Charlie Wilks (Aimee Flood 46’), Fran Raymond-Barker (Emily Harris 46’), Reese Ayres, Billie Bough-French, Macie Bough-French (Yasmin Edwards 46’), Ellie Walecki, Ellie White, Grace Craven © (Sophie Lester 60’), Meira Ashby, Abi Whistler, Seraphina Bell (Amelia Davis 60’). 

City Men XI: Parker Jessop (Max Treml 46’), Keegan Bloom (Tyler Dix 62’), Evan Humphries (Louie Stowell 46’), Zac McEachran (Kauan 46’), Fernando Forestieri (Max Smith 46’), Alfie Potter © (Georgios Tzenko 46’), Aydin Ulas, Tyrae Njogu, Canice Carroll (Jacob Parker-Hunt 46’), Brayden Daniel, Isaac Westendorf (Matty Taylor 46’).