| Newbury had the better goal scoring chances in the opening period of the match, with both Ruby Oliver and Kendall Gilmore seeing long distance efforts go marginally high and wide of the Oxford goal.
After 10 minutes Ellie Reed raced through onto a good ball from Naomi Purvis at left back. Reed beat the Oxford goalkeeper to the ball, only to see her goal bound header cleared away by the last Oxford defender, with Jenny Petrylak unable to capitalise, sending her follow up shot just wide of the post.
But despite all the opening pressure and chances, Newbury found themselves one nil down on 15 minutes. Oxford’s first attempt at goal was converted and came when the Newbury back line were unable to clear a cross. The loose ball fell straight to the Oxford striker, who fired in an unstoppable shot to opening the scoring.
Despite this setback, Newbury continued to take the game to Oxford and were rewarded with an equaliser just 4 minutes later, when Ellie Reed pounced onto a long clearance from Gemma Povey straight over the top of the Oxford defence. Reed again beat the U’s goalkeeper to the ball, but this time was able to steer her header into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
It was proving to be an entertaining and evenly matched encounter. Although Newbury conceded again on the half hour mark. This time Oxford put together a good flowing move, playing the ball out from the back and sending their striker through for a one on one opportunity, which she did not miss. Her shot nestling into the bottom corner of the Newbury net. 2-1 to Oxford.
As half time approached, the Oxford pressure was beginning to build and they converted again from a corner right on the stroke of half time to take a 3-1 lead into the break.
At the start of the second period, Newbury made a tactical switch in attempt to get back into the game, switching to a 4-3-3 formation with Gilmore pushed further forward. Oxford however, still looked the more energetic side and were the team in control for large spells in the game.
With the heavens opening, a deluge of rain fell heavily during the middle part of the half, making the conditions for flowing football difficult for both sides and chances were few and far between. As the rain began to ease, Oxford scored their fourth and fifth goals in quick succession to make the final score 5-1 to the visitors.
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