Oxford City’s Under 19s were beaten 3-2 in a thoroughly entertaining league encounter with  Boreham Wood at the MGroup Stadium this afternoon

Perhaps with one eye on next week’s FA Youth Cup game City made changes to the side on a beautiful autumnal afternoon but dominated the early exchanges despite having eight regular players missing.

They were deservedly ahead after 18 minutes when a short corner routine drew a hesitant Boreham Wood defence out of shape and Charlie Bacon smoked the ball home through a sea of legs to make it 1-0.

Somehow City then allowed all of that early good work to be undone by conceding two quick goals. First they found themselves pegged back after 33 minutes when a simple throw carved them open in the middle of defence as the visitors levelled and then it was 2-1 two minutes later as the same Boreham Wood striker fired past exposed keeper Max Treml for the second time.

That was harsh on the City youngsters and five minutes before the break they were level again when Bacon burst forward down the right and worked the ball across the edge of the box for Aydin Ulas who powered the ball home for an excellent goal that made it 2-2 at the interval.

The second half saw Treml make a good save and Louie Stowell clear the loose ball off the line but also Jacob Parker-Hunt head wide at the back post at the other end as the sides traded chances. Again, it was the away side who found a way through, making it 3-2 half way through the second period after a defensive error.

City came back strong despite rotating the squad and using every player available. Sub Alvin Gerard went close with a header, Alf Tillyer forced a save and there were half chances and plenty of spills as they chased the game in the closing stages.

No late drama though, just thoughts of what might have been and focus moving swiftly on to Chippenham at home in the FA Youth Cup next Tuesday evening…

CITY
Treml, Spence (Gerald), Stowell, Parker-Hunt, Dix (Tzengko), Njogu (Moakes), Heap, Mirnam (Maxwell), Webb, Bacon (Tillyer), Ulas

Earlier in the day in the Mickey Lewis Premier League City beat Reading Community Trust 3-2 with two goals from Jay Keen and one from Harvey Gough.

Reports by Chris Williams and Alex Whyte, pictures by Alex Whyte