Dominant Wanderers Sink City

This Sunday I decided to make the short journey down the M40 to Burnham, my old stomping ground from 25 years ago when I lived in neighbouring Taplow. The game in question was an all Southern Region Premier League, League Cup tie between Wycombe Wanderers and Oxford City. The hosts have started the season like a house on fire. A 100% record in the league with 25 goals scored in four games, through to the next round of the County Cup and only narrowly beaten on penalties by higher-ranked Bridgwater United in the FA Cup. Today's opponents, Oxford City, have been sluggish in comparison, winning one and drawing two of their league games. However, they too had progressed in the County Cup (even though it was by a walkover) and, more to the point, had made it through to Round Two of the FA Cup after a 4-2 home defeat of high-flying South West Premier side, Sherborne Town.

---

It wasn't all Wycombe

Wycombe were at the races from the very first minute in this game, yet it was Oxford's Ellie White who struck the first shot in anger, firing wide of the mark in the 8th minute. Three minutes later, Wycombe had the ball in the City net. Kayla Potter got a toe to a through ball, beating Hannah Gerrow to it and poking it to Chloe Melton, who applied the finishing touch from an offside position. No goal.
The home disappointment was short-lived however. With 13 minutes on the clock Ellen Wardlaw's right-wing corner somehow evaded everyone, nestling into the far corner. 1-0. City tried to respond through Yasmin Edwards, but her shot was wide of the mark.
Wycombe could have increased their lead on 19 minutes when Kayla Potter delightfully cushioned a through ball with her head but could only send her shot straight at Gerrow. Again the disappointment was brief. Three minutes later Potter latched onto another through ball before being bundled over inside the area. Penalty! Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins took the responsibility, converting low to Gerrow's right. 2-0
Just past the half-hour Oxford generated their best opportunity of the half. Edwards created the break with a burst down the right. She squared for Ellie, who saw her shot well blocked by Sophie Harvey. Emily Harris could only hit the rebound straight back at Courlander, and the chance was gone.
With eight minutes remining in the first-half, Kayla Potter won a header some 30 yards out, ran on to her own flick-on and, beating Gerrow to the ball, poked it past the keeper into the net. 3-0. Already three goals up and looking good to progress, Wycombe then hit Oxford with a late fourth goal a minute into added time. Potter evaded the offside trap on the left, drove past a covering defender and laid the ball back to the edge of the box where Chloe Melton met it first time, guiding the ball into the top corner. What a classy finish! 4-0

HT Wycombe Wanderers 4 Oxford City 0. A dominant display from the hosts. Their movement, speed and accuracy in the final third proving to be too much for City.

---

Hoesli-Atkins scores from the spot

​With the tie already as good as decided, the second half was never going to such a spectacle. However, it started just as the first-half had finished, with a Wycombe goal. Only two minutes had passed when Chloe Melton got to a loose, bouncing ball in the box a split second before the defender, resulting in the striker taking a sore one for the team but winning them a second penalty. Ailish Carolan was on duty for this one, but the result was the same. 5-0 and a first goal of the season for the defender.
Ten minutes in, Kayla Potter planted a header just wide but, after that, the chances for Wycombe dried up somewhat, as they took their foot off the gas a little. That said, they were still keeping things tight at the back and, despite the industry of the Oxford midfield and forward line, the Hoops couldn't find a way through the home defence.
Then, with 17 minutes of normal time remaining, it was six. Laura Hennessy's right-wing corner volleyed in at the far post by Chloe Melton. 6-0. Oxford continued to work hard and, as a neutral, it would have been good to see them get a consolation. However, aside from a long-distance lob from Katherine Parsons, that went well wide, and a shot from Yasmin Edwards that flew across the face of goal, they didn't really stress Axelle Courlander.

FT Wycombe Wanderers 6 Oxford City 0. The game was effectively over by half-time. An extremely professional performance from Wycombe. City are no pushover and continued to battle throughout the game. However, they were no match for The Chairgirls on the day. To be fair, not many teams are going to be able to contain Wycombe this season. 

Wycombe Wanderers: 25. Courlander, 3.Harvey, 6.Lynch(c), 5.Beaver, 14.Kern, 8.Hennessy, 16.Hoesli-Atkins, 12.Carolan, 17.Wardlaw, 10.Potter, 9.Melton. Subs: Mulvaney, Hill, MacDiarmid, Baker
Oxford City: Gerrow, Ayers, Prescott-Luke, Bough-French(c), Leach, O'Leary, Craven, Parsons, Harris, E.White, Edwards. Subs: Davis, L.White, Wellington-Faissal, Tayman, Lester

Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A

---