Emphatic Young Hoops rout Portland United to book a place in the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup. 

An early Michael Bampoh was followed in by a Piotr Fornal second half screamer before Captain Evan Took-Oxley sealed the game. Substitute Bukunmi Maxwell put the icing on the cake in the last few minutes and gave City a much deserved victory. 

The first chance of the game fell to the home side when 15-year-old Corey Roy hit a snapshot on the turn and forced a good early save from Max Treml. 

Portland United had the ball in the back of the City net inside the first 5 minutes when a corner was bundled in but the linesman ruled it out for offside

The home crowd were up for this contest but The Hoops soon silenced them.

The ever-dangerous Kauan Bitencourt de Oliveira won a free kick on the edge of the box and Michael Bampoh snuck it underneath the jumping wall, catching the keeper off guard. 

The rest of the first half was a dogged affair. Both sides tried to get to grips with the howling wind and fouls in midfield broke up the rhythm of the game. 

The best chance City had to double their lead came in the closing minutes of the first period.

Treml sent his goal kick long, it was flicked on and Bampoh was through on goal. He rolled it round the onrushing keeper and passed it into an empty net, but, for the second time in the half, it was ruled out for offside. 

Half Time: Portland United 0-1 Oxford City

With City playing downwind, the second half was a much more one-sided game. City created plenty more chances. 

The Young Hoops hit the blues on the counter. Kauan took a shot from a tight angle, and the rebound fell to Piotr Fornal who’s attempt was blocked, denying a certain goal. 

The goal did eventually come for City. Kaiden Heap swung a free kick into the box, it pinballed around on the edge of the area, before falling to Piotr Fornal stationed 25 yards from goal. He hit it perfectly on the volley and it flew into the top corner. 

Evan Took-Oxley then got himself on the scoresheet as Heap’s corner found it’s way to the backpost, where it was headed back across goal and the Captain had the simplest of tasks of heading into the gaping goal. 

Manager Eddie Odhiambo made a couple of changes after the third, one of whom was Bukunmi Maxwell. He wasted no time in getting in on the action as Kauan slid a perfectly weighted pass through the Portland defence and Maxwell rolled it calmly passed the keeper to confirm City’s progression to the next round. 

An emphatic performance from a special group of young players. 

Full Time: Portland United 0-4 Oxford City

Oxford City: Treml, Abdi (Maxwell 80’), Dix, Took-Oxley, Parker-Hunt, Heap (Goff 80’), Tzengko, Stathi, Bitencourt de Oliveira, Fornal (Barber 86’), Bampoh

Subs: Price, Starkey, Harwood, Green