Despite the score line, Oxford City Women started their pre-season campaign with an encouraging performance against Women’s National League side Oxford United.

The yellows showed their class throughout to run out 5-0 winners at the MGroup Stadium, but City had their moments in the match and the team will be encouraged by a lot on display on what was our BIG Football Day.

Lyon Theoharous’ chose a strong XI from a small squad in his first game in the dugout as City’s Women’s Manager.

Billie Bough-French was the player who captained the side, as she lined up alongside Emily Harris, Ellie White and Ellie Walecki. All four players committed their future to the Hoops in the past week.

The game was reduced to two 30-minute halves to allow a seamless transition back to action for the teams.

 The game started as expected. United showed their WNL (Women’s National League) class with countless attacks. The U’s play two divisions above the Hoops and will be looking to go one-better with promotion to the WSL this season.

Despite the gap, the Hoops put up a fight and they held firm.

However, the deadlock was broken in the 17^th minute, when Nicole Barrett evaded detection inside the box to provide the finishing touch to put United ahead.

The second goal was almost a carbon copy, but this time it was Emma Thompson who got the goal. Again, the movement was too much for the Hoops defence, and a simple finish doubled their lead.

Despite the one-way traffic, City weren’t to be dismayed and Theoharous’ side almost pulled a goal back instantly.

Emily Harris was a bright spark down the right wing all afternoon, and when she burst down the flank from kick-off, she tested United ‘keeper Millington-Stanbury from a tight angle.

The U’s Goalkeeper spilt Harris’ effort, but the Hoops couldn’t react quickly enough to pull a goal back from a possible re-bound.

Nevertheless, the game was put beyond doubt with the final kick of the half, and the pick of the bunch.

Holld Manders picked up the ball from 25-yards out and thought she’d try an audacious from long-range. It paid off.

A curling effort rose over the head of City ‘Keeper Hannah Gerrow and nestled into the corner of the net.

After the break, City found their doggedness again, but again it was the Yellows that were doing the majority of the attacking.

Despite that, the Hoops always looked like a danger on the counter. Sophie Lester came close for the Hoops, but her long-range effort was well-held by Millington-Stanbury.

United scored their fourth just over five minutes from the end, when Gerrow was deemed to have fouled Thompson inside the area after rushing off her line.

Holly Turner took the resulting spot kick and made no mistake to add a fourth.

Again though, City kept at it, and both Harris and Bough-French came close to pulling a worthy consolation goal back.

A fifth goal followed swiftly after those chances, though. Grace Palmer hammered home from close-range after the ball fell to her inside the area, just seconds after the Hoops had put bodies on the line to deny a multitude of United chances.

The scoreline may seem large, but City’s performance (especially on the first game of pre-season) looked extremely promising. Next up, the Hoops take on Abingdon United at the MGroup Stadium on Sunday.

We’d like to thank Oxford United for agreeing to this fixture and wish them the very best of luck for their season ahead.

Oxford City Starting XI: Gerrow, Hume, Bough-French, Trialist A, Trialist B, Lester, Walecki, Trialist C, Harris, L White, E White.

Subs: Wellington-Faissal, Trialist D, Trialist E.