Young Bulls Draw at Oxford

The final game of the season in the Youth Alliance for Hereford United was a trip to Woodstock to play Oxford United. Chris Chapman returned to right back after a six week lay off with a broken nose. Brendan Hackett started in place of the suspended Tyler Weir.

The Bulls made the best possible start when Aidan Thomas cut in from the right and curled a brilliant left foot shot into the top right hand corner of the Oxford goal. The game settled down into a battle between the two defences with both providing good protection for their respective keepers. The pace of Thomas was a constant treat to the home defence and his opposite number Woodley also looking lively. The game finished 1-0 at the break.

The second half started with the home side very much on the offensive and the Bulls struggled to get out of our half for the first ten minutes. They gradually settled down and forced more of the play in the opponents half. Chances were still at a premium although Matty Gwynne was the busier of the two keepers. Then in the twenty second minute Thomas out paced the home centre half to poke the ball into the bottom corner of the net with his much unfavoured right foot to score his seventh goal of the season.

A Zak Brimble corner was just taken off the head of skipper Jamie Cuthbertson to defy him a goal on his final appearance. The home side continued to push the Bulls back and with fifteen minutes remaining fired a goal into the roof of the net from a corner. The pressure became relentless as the Bulls panicked a little under the pressure. With five minutes remaining the home side scored to level the scores.

Final score 2-2.

As usual the young Bulls lose their second year players and say farewell to Mike Evans, Joel Edwards, Jamie Cuthbertson, and subs Jak Lewis and Chris Freddi. They did however finish the game with five under sixteen players on the pitch which bodes well for next season.

Team: Gwynne, Chapman, Edwards, Evans M. (Lewis 80) Cuthbertson, Brimble, Lee, Loftus, Thomas, Hackett (Loughman 68) Moreton Subs not used: Hunt, Freddi

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