Oxford City U19 got their Alliance National League season off with 3-0 victory at Arbour Park, away to Slough Town on Wednesday.

A Charlie Bacon hat-trick was enough to secure the three points for City who put in a collectively outstanding performance ahead of the FA Youth Cup qualifying rounds.

The deadlock was broken after half an hour with an excellent solo goal. Bacon picked up the ball and drove at the defence, beating three players before slotting it past the keeper into the bottom right hand corner.

The second was a different style of goal highlighting the versatility of this Young Hoops squad. Evan Took-Oxley played a long diagonal pass over the top of the Slough backline. Bacon brought it down with the deftest of touches before volleying it past the keeper to double the City lead.

The cherry on top of the cake was the third. Ryan Sheppard was brought down on the edge of the box. Bacon stepped up and whipped it into the top right hand corner to put City well and truly out of sight.

While Bacon, who was recently recalled from a successful loan spell at Flackwell Heath and played in the away fixture against Buxton for the first team. was the standout performer, Evan Took-Oxley commanded the backline brilliantly and came away with a clean sheet. Endri Stathi also controlled the game from midfield.

Head Coach Jordan Piper, following the game was keen to place the emphasis on the collective effort as, he said: "It was a great all round performance. To have everyone contributing in the first game of the season was really pleasing to see.

"It's a long season and we will need everyone if we are to compete where we should be competing so I'm very happy with everyone's performance. And to come away with three points and start on the front foot is great and I'm very pleased."

The Young Hoops will be back in action for the FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying round as they face Basingstoke but their next league game is at home to Maidstone United, who have won both of their first two games, so it will be a testing couple of weeks for the youngsters.

CITY

Treml (GK), Webb, Ulas, Njogu, Moir, Took-Oxley, Bampoh, Heap, Bitencourt de Oliveira, Stathi, Bacon

Substitutes

Sheppard, Mirnam, Fornal, Moakes, Parker-Hunt

Photo Credit: Simon Godfrey