Annie Gets It Done

Once again the weather took a hand in my plans this weekend. I had originally purchased a ticket for AFC Portchester v Worthing but, when that was called off early on Sunday morning, it was an easy decision to switch my plans to Oxford City v Swindon Town. City's MGroup Stadium was playing host to two Women's FA Cup matches on Sunday. I the early kick-off Oxford United beat Luton Town 3-1. I'm not a native to the Oxford area, but I've been here long enough to know the significance of an Oxford - Swindon game. So much so that, even if the two Oxford teams were in the same division, matches against Swindon would still the more important derby.
Add to that, the fact that it was a cup tie where the lower-ranked team was at home, and there was the making of a classic game. There was no doubt that City started the game as underdogs. Their Southern region Premier League form had been patchy by their standards but they already created history by winning three cup ties to reach the second round. Their opponents, from the Women's National Division One South-West, came into the game in about as good a run of form as any team could have. Second in the league with a game in hand and defending an eight game 100% record, this would be game 18 in all competitions. The previous 17 had all ended in Swindon wins. An incredible record. Their last outing prior to this match was a county cup game in which they had scored 19 unanswered goals. Captain and top-scorer, Annie Colston, had already helped herself to 19 goals in 15 matches.
That was the size of the task facing The Hoops.

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Colston scores from the spot

​In front of what turned out to be a record-breaking stadium attendance for a women's game (757), Swindon did what any visiting team would want to do in this situation, they went on the attack and didn't give the home crown the opportunity to get behind their team. Even the City drummer was quiet as the visitors immediately took control of the game. They had their first opportunity inside the opening 30 seconds and continued to keep City penned into their own half.
Only six minutes had elapsed when Elise Clayton drove into the box and was clipped as she shaped to shoot. Penalty!
Annie Colston stepped up, sending the ball past Hannah Gerrow to register her 20th goal of the season. 0-1.
Following the goal, Swindon continued to pile the pressure onto the City defensive lines. Gerrow and her defence, led by captain Billie Bough-French, also had a little help from the woodwork in the 12th minute, when a long-range effort crashed off the bar. Oxford were not being allowed out of their own half with Ellie White and Emily Harris also having to drop back to assist their beleaguered midfield. Having said that, City were still hanging in there.
Just past the midway stage in the half Swindon must have wondered what else they needed to do to increase their lead. Gerrow bravely threw herself into a sea of boots to block from Colston, then her defence blocked two more goal bound efforts on the line, before the ball dropped to Elise Clayton, who saw her strike crash back off the bar again.
The problem for City was, with White and Harris dropping deeper, they had no real out ball. Every time they broke down a Swindon attack, they could only clear their lines and wait for the next onslaught. So, just after the half-hour, it was no great surprise when Town finally doubled their lead. Yest another ball into the box was not completely dealt with and, when it broke loose, who was on the end of it? Annie Colston. Slamming the ball past Gerrow for 0-2.
A two goal advantage meant that Swindon could now relax a little. Gerrow was having a very busy day between the City sticks, but was making save after save. She was beaten by a 37th minute Libby Davies effort, but the flag had already gone up.
City finally threatened Hannah Cox's goal in the 41st minute when Emily Harris latched onto some defensive indecision, before seeing her effort deflected wide of the mark.

HT Oxford City 0 Swindon Town 2. A half of attack versus defence, as City were kept penned in their own half for the vast majority of the 45 minutes. Credit to Oxford though, they dug in and defended very well, never letting their energy levels drop even though they spent a lot of time chasing shadows.

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Town looking for more

​The second half began in much the same way as the first. Swindon were immediately on the front foot and, within two minutes, Sarah King came close to adding to their tally. Colston then almost grabbed a hat-trick when her sharp turn and shot saw the ball whistle over Gerrow's bar.
The difference in the second half was that, when City did manage to break down a Swindon attack, they were beginning to hold onto the ball a little longer, giving their defence a breather before the next wave. Gerrow was still having to work hard in goal though, getting down well to save from a Davies header just before the hour.
Oxford looked much livelier up front in this half, Emily Harris taking a more central role with Ellie White dropping deeper and Yasmin Edwards coming on to add some more pace.
Harris looked the most likely to cause damage and only a brilliantly timed Lacey Liggett tackle prevented her getting a shot off just past the hour. A few minutes later Liggett was again called into action, making another timely interception to break down a City attack. Harris then brought the best out of Hannah Cox after winning a race with her marker and getting off a shot from a tight angle.
City were certainly giving their visitors something to think about in the latter stages, but couldn't quite find the illusive goal that may have changed the complexion of the game. Of course, they were still open to the power of the Swindon strike force too, and that was the case in he 85th minute. Annie Colston controlled a ball in from the right, on the edge of the box. Juggled it into position and then unleashed a volley, low past Gerrow's right-hand. 0-3 and a hat-trick for Colston.
City were beaten, but they did almost have the final say when Yasmin Edwards burst down the right and sent of a cross that deceived Cox and came back off the bar.

FT Oxford City 0 Swindon Town 3. Swindon deservedly Round Three and, in all honesty, could easily have doubled their goal tally. However, Oxford can be proud of their performance. They battled for the entire game. Never gave up and even gave Swindon something to think about in the second half. As a neutral it would have been good to see them score a consolation, but it was not to be. Swindon are a very good team. Solid at the back, fluid across the middle and lethal up front.
If you want to catch either of these team in action in the coming week, you can. Oxford City are back at the MGroup Stadium on Sunday as they welcome Badshot Lea in a a league fixture. Swindon have a massive fixture at The County Ground as they take on current unbeaten league leaders, Moneyfields.

Oxford City: 13.Gerrow, 2.Ayers, 3.Leach, 7.Parsons, 8.Lester, 10.Harris, 11.E.Whit, 15.Gorman, 16.Graven, 18.O'Leary, 19. Bough-French(c). Subs: 13.Maskell, 4.Tayman, 5.Wellington-Faissal, 6.Davis, 9.Walecki, 12.Edwards, 14.L.White
Swindon Town: 1.Cox, 2.Sherwood, 5.Osbourne, 9.Colston(c), 11.Diaz-Butcher, 13.Liggett, 15.Waylen, 17.King, 18.Davies, 22.Clayton, 24.Holden. Subs: 33.Hannam, 7.Beck-Esson, 8.MacDonald, 14.Wilson, 16.St.Claire, 20.Russell-Cartwright, 26.Haynes

Ground Number: Re-Visit
Att: 757
Entrance: £7.00
Programme: N/A - Team sheet available

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