Oxford City Women started their league season with thoroughly entertaining 3-2 win over Sholing at the MGroup Stadium this afternoon.

Goals from Yasmin Edwards and Ellie Walecki and a decisive late penalty from Ellie White saw City pick up all three points in a high-paced game full of incident and drama.

City created the early chances with the lively Edwards and non-stop Emily Harris forcing two good saves and White also going close before Sholing scored the opener against the run of play when a long ball from the back after ten minutes bypassed everyone and allowed Sophie Lee to tackle City keeper Kiera Maskell and roll the ball home from the tightest of angles for her first of the afternoon..

City continued to pepper the Sholing goal but found visiting keeper Grace Jenman in top form with good saves from White and Harris again plus a back-pedalling catch when the hard-working Grace Craven tied to chip her after 25 minutes.

In the end it took another tackle on the keeper to produce the equaliser after 31 minutes. Edwards’ pace was troubling the Sholing back line and when she chased a back pass down Jenman was always going to come off second best as she raced from here goal. Edwards won the challenge, beat a desperate challenge from a recovering defender and casually knocked the ball home to deservedly put City back on level terms.

However all that hard work and domination was almost undone two minutes into the second half when the dangerous Lee again stole the ball inside the area and curled it inside the far post for her second of the game to put the visitors 2-1 up.

Undeterred, City continued to play their way back into things and on 55 were level again when the excellent Walecki made immediate impact found space inside the box to fire just inside the left-hand post and make it 2-2.

An injury to the ref meant a change of officials soon after and with ten minutes left the replacement ref saw a tug on Walecki as she rolled past a defender, and from the penalty White powered home an unstoppable spot kick to seal an opening day win. 

There was still time for a vital flying save from Kiera Maskell in the 93rd minute but City were full value for their victory.

Great entertainment, five goals and a flying start. What's not to like?

CITY
Maskell, Leach, Bough-French, Prescott-Luke, Ayers, Harris, Lester, Craven, Parsons, Edwards, E White

ROLLING SUBS

Walecki, Tayman, L White, O’Leary, Wellington-Faissal

Att: 176

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Darrell Fisher