Oxford United started the new season with a bang as they boldly stepped up a division to comfortably beat Reading Ladies on a hot, but windy afternoon at their Horspath ground.

Oxford clearly started the brighter as Colleen Ashbee set a precedent with an excellent strike from distance which went narrowly wide.  United didn’t have to wait long though as on 11 minutes Steph Barras’ mazy run down the wing created enough space to get a great shot away which left the keeper with no chance.

United continued to press forcing a number of corners as they began to totally dominate the first half.  Neatly passing the ball around and creating space, United’s central midfield of Ashbee and Becca Corbett worked hard and linked up well with Chloe McLinden-Darby playing just in front and spreading the ball out wide to wingers Barras and Perri Jefferies.

Oxford doubled their lead after a big kick out from new keeper Holly Randall caught the wind, which sent it over Reading back line.  First to react was last season’s top scorer Bev Hirons who met the ball and the approaching keeper on the edge of the box.  Hirons kept her head and calmly lobbed the ball over the keeper.

After more good work from Barras, United got their third as her cross made it through to Jefferies on the left hand side and she fired the ball home.  Then on 35 minutes, another good ball through from the centre of midfield found Jefferies and while the Reading defence stopped expecting the offside flag she ran one-on-one and coolly slotted past the helpless keeper.

United steamed forward as the half wore on and 3 more goals came in quick succession.  The first another perfectly timed chip from Hirons followed by 2 in 2 minutes from Jefferies.  The second was a fantastic strike from 30 yards through a crowd of players, which comfortably nestled in the top corner.

United’s defence, although not called upon too often, are kept on their toes with the occasional long ball, but the well organised back line of Kath Boardman, Katie Hilsdon, Kim Pringle and Sharon Fostekew held tight and any threats were quickly snuffed out.
In the second half United had the wind in their faces and Reading took early advantage pressing forward and forcing a corner.  Randall got a good punch away to clear her lines and Boardman managed to get the ball to touch.  This half was shaping up to be much more open as both United and Reading carve out good chances with United’s Barras hitting the post with one shot and seeing another fly over the bar, but it is Reading who get the break through after quick work on the wing forces United to give away a freekick right on the edge of the area which is superbly finished by Reading’s striker.

This kick starts Oxford after perhaps playing it a bit too cool and they once again fought to regain control of the game.  With just 3 minutes to play Hirons completes her hat-trick with a lovely low strike into the far left corner of the net.  There was still time for one more goal though as on the stroke of full time a harmless ball looks to be falling into the Reading keeper’s arms when Hirons pops up again and just beats her to it to curl it into the corner.

A good afternoon’s work for United and a great start to the season.  Oxford manager Paul Davies praised his players commitment after the game; "I was really pleased we started brightly and it's always good to get an early goal.  We looked comfortable on the ball and the team effort and attitude was really good.  Pre-season did us a lot of good and we never looked like we were struggling for fitness so hopefully we can take that into the rest of the season."