Despite the home side kicking off the match, possession was almost immediately conceded to Oxford City, with their midfield looking very strong in the opening stages. Newbury’s defence were definitely the busier, with the visitors guilty of wasting several chances to break the deadlock. Newbury only had one effort of note in the first half, when Bex Walker worked a good opening for herself. Her shot from the right of the area was on target and forced a good save from the Oxford keeper, who had her angles spot on and had come out to close down well.

Newbury looked to have weathered the early storm, after Oxford’s good attacking play, but then Newbury conceded right on the half hour mark. Despite this set back however, Newbury rallied a little and managed to reach the half time break with just the single goal separating the two teams.

Newbury made a couple of changes at the start of the second half and they certainly looked more solid in the second period. The match was finely balanced and very competitive. The momentum in the game swung Newbury’s way in the 69th minute when captain, Caroline Harkness was fouled in a central area, 35 yards from goal. Ruby Oliver stepped forward to take the free kick, which was direct and she hit an unstoppable shot into the top left corner, leaving the Oxford keeper with absolutely no chance, the ball thundering past her. It was some strike and it brought Newbury back on level terms. One, one now the score line.

Being pegged back onto level terms seemed to sting Oxford City into action once more and they again looked to threaten in Newbury’s final third. They had a volley from the edge of the area on 79 minutes that struck and rattled Newbury’s cross bar, before rebounding away and out to the far right. As two opposing players came together to challenge for the loose ball, a collision occurred when Kela Maskell for Newbury took the ball, but also the Oxford winger, as her momentum carried her through. It looked reckless, although there was no intent or maliciousness in the challenge, but in the Referee’s opinion the challenge was worthy of a red card and Maskell was dismayed to find herself dismissed from the field of play in the 80th minute.

With Newbury now reduced to 10 players, they knew the last ten minutes would need to be a “backs to the wall” job to try to hold onto the draw, with the scores still tied at one goal apiece. Unfortunately for Newbury, they just couldn’t quite hold on, as Oxford City spent the last ten minutes camped entirely in Newbury’s half. The pressure told and the visitors were able to force home a close range finish as late as in the 88th minute, leaving Newbury’s 10 players with no realistic chance or time to respond.

2-1 was the final score and it was harsh on Newbury’s players, who had battled valiantly and given a performance in which they deserved to take at least a point. But yet again, another match passed by in which they were left empty handed.