From the kick off, Oxford looked to attack with pace down both wings. Their first attack was thwarted by a good save from Newbury goalkeeper, Chloe Hunt, with her legs, and the second move down the left resulted in a goalmouth scramble that was eventually cleared by defender, Lorna Parr. A new centre half pairing of Sam McConnon and Naomi Purvis, were performing steadfastly for Newbury under wave after wave of Oxford pressure in the opening period.

Newbury’s first attacking move came down their left, with Emma O’Leary forcing the play and turning her full back. As she headed towards the penalty area, she drew a foul from the covering defender and won her side a free kick in a good position. Back after injury for Newbury was striker Ruby Oliver and from the free kick, she played in Nicole Beesley on the edge of the area, who sent over a dangerous first time cross. Unfortunately for Newbury, no one got a clear connection and the danger passed.

The next chance fell Newbury’s way again just 4 minutes later, when Oliver was sent clear on the left. With the Oxford keeper advancing, Oliver just clipped her shot over the top of the goalkeeper, but as it sailed goal-wards, the Oxford centre half arrived just in time to clear dramatically from under her own cross bar. Oxford reacted strongly to this, with their right winger tearing straight into Newbury territory. She evaded the full back’s challenge and crossed back across goal, where the Oxford striker was waiting to steer the ball home. One nil to the home side.

Newbury though, kept their heads and their shape, and continued with their impressive work rate. Both Caroline Harkness and Rachel Panting in midfield for Newbury were combining well and their attempts to press the Oxford players high up the pitch were proving effective. Although Oxford were marginally ahead on scoring chances, Newbury were not being outplayed and it was a very good contest.

As half time neared, one mistake in the Newbury back line and a clinical finish from the Oxford right winger, who was again proving a thorn in Newbury’s side, saw the hosts take a two nil lead at the break.

The second half restarted and inside two minutes, Newbury found themselves three nil down and with a mountain to climb. When Leanne Creese was back defending for Newbury, she committed the cardinal sin of dribbling back across goal and when dispossessed, Oxford made certain with their finish and claimed their third goal. For Creese, it was one of those moments where she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

To say Newbury were rocked was an understatement, as the next 12 minutes saw Oxford ruthless destroy their opponents, by scoring a further four goals and taking their tally for the afternoon to seven. With that mini aberration behind them, the next ten minute spell saw Newbury regain their composure and their defensive resolve. It was not until the 70th minute, when Oxford were gifted another chance. This time, after Purvis had conceded a soft penalty, the resultant spot kick gave Hunt in the Newbury goal no chance and Oxford took an eight nil lead.

In the game’s closing period, two own goals by Newbury, either side of another Oxford strike, handed the home side victory and meant that Newbury were cruelly on the end of an 11 nil final score line.