Five-Star Hoops Sink Fleet Town.

Oxford City 5

Emily Harris 8'

Kate Parsons 16' 19'

Reese Ayres 25' 36'

Fleet Town 0

Oxford City put five past Fleet Town, earning back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they cruised to victory at the MGroup. 

All five were netted in a busy first-half in OX3, with Emily Harris, Kate Parsons, and Reese Ayres on the scoresheet as the Hoops confirmed their league double over the Blues. 

The Hoops dominated the early possession, and took the lead after just eight minutes. It was lovely play from Yasmin Edwards to win the ball back, drive forward, and deliver a low ball, with Harris touching home at the back post to steal the advantage. 

City continued that fast start, with a quick-fire double from Parsons to follow. Her first came on 16 minutes, as she was threaded through for a one-on-one chance with Fleet’s keeper, and calmly slotted home. Her second came just three minutes later, with a fine strike from a wide angle seeing her lift into the roof of the net. 

After storming to an early three goal lead, Ayres netted her first of the season, with a cheeky touch from the centre of the box which directed a low cross into the far corner on 25 minutes.

The Hoops continued to dominate, with little for Aimee Flood to do as her defence denied Fleet any half-chance of an attack. That’s not to say the visitors didn’t have spells in possession, but chances on goal were a rarity for the Blues. 

Then, at it again, Ayres got her second on 36 minutes. It was Parsons who delivered the corner, with the wind looking to carry it into the net, but Ayres ensured she pushed it over the line, the last in a five-goal first-half thriller. 

Half-time: Oxford City 5-0 Fleet Town

The Hoops looked to continue in goalscoring fashion immediately after the restart, Hermione Prescott-Luke with the first of the chances, as she took a swing at Parsons’ corner, but directed wide.

The following ten minutes was a far more even affair, with much of the play unfolding in the middle of the park, and little threat on either keeper to report. The Blues certainly looked more dangerous going forward than they did in the first 45, but they couldn’t break down the Hoops’ defence, who largely limited them to shots from range. 

As the game approached 70 minutes, the most likely to net the next looked to be Edwards, who chased down Prescott-Luke’s ball on 68 minutes, creating herself some space, only to direct narrowly wide. Then, moments later, she looked to go all the way herself, picking up the ball just inside the Fleet half, driving forward, and forcing a good save in the Fleet net. 

It was then the visitors with a mighty effort, as they looked to cause an upset to City’s clean sheet. Flood ensured that wouldn’t be the case, with an excellent save seeing her tip the Blues’ long-range effort over the bar on 77 minutes.

The Hoops continued to push forward, looking to add to the scoreline before full-time, Edwards going the closest on 88 minutes, as she took aim from the goalmouth, but seeing her shot somehow saved by the legs of the Blues keeper. 

It was then Billie Bough-French who directed home from a corner, but the Hoops were denied their sixth by the ref’s whistle. No bother, however, as the job had long been completed by the Hoops, with five goals and a clean sheet the story of a dominant display at the MGroup. 

City XI: Aimee Flood, Sammy Dziminowicz (Poppy Gorman 25’), Reese Ayres (Anna O’Leary 53’ (Kate Parsons 86’)), Hermione Prescott-Luke ©, Billie Bough-French, Sophie Lester (Ellie Walecki 46’), Janaye Beaufort, Ellie White, Emily Harris (Angie Dunbar-Bonnie 25’ (Emily Harris 71’)), Yasmin Edwards, Kate Parsons (Meira Ashby 60’).