Oxford United beat Crawley Town to maintain perfect record

A Charlie Barker own goal opened proceedings for United before former Yellow Malcolm Ebiowei equalised.

Gatlin O’Donkor scored his third in three games to put the U’s back front before Tyler Goodrham sealed the deal with a late third.

Oxford had an early chance through left back Greg Leigh who headed on target.

Stan Mills began brightly, forcing a save from Vito Mannone before seeing a shot from range blocked.

The U’s then found their goal, a low ball in creating havoc as Leigh hit it at the keeper who parried it onto Barker and into his own net.

The visitors tried to hit back through Stephen Duke-McKenna who rocketed an effort just over the bar.

Peter Kioso plays the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

Mills had the beating of Ade Adeyemo on the right on numerous occasions, winning two free kicks in dangerous areas after shimmying past his man.

Thanks to Gianmarco Di Biase, Crawley won a free kick of their own after half an hour, Ebiowei bagging the equaliser with a wicked strike into the top left corner.

Oxford responded with some neat passages of play, Cameron Brannagan sliding a sweet ball into Ruben Roosken who could not control it and was caught painfully when tackled, forcing him to unfortunately be stretchered off the field.

Town winger Duke-McKenna had his second chance of the game, hitting a first-time shot from Kellan Gordan’s cross which Peter Kioso got in the way of.

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The second period began with a striker’s turn from centre back James Golding, the defender forcing a save with a low shot inside the box.

Aidomo Emakhu also fired at the keeper before Gianmarco Di Biase leaned back to fire over inside the U’s box.

Louie Sibley won the ball high up and drew a save before the Yellows retook the lead.

O’Donkor secured his third goal in three games, latching onto the end of Leigh’s cross to tuck the ball home from close range.

The U’s continued to smell blood, Goodrham at the heart of things with three efforts saved and almost an assist for Emakhu who also had a shot stopped.

Oxford United centre back James Golding (Image: Oxford United)

Striker Mark Harris fired over the bar as United finished strongly.

Goodrham got his goal late on, receiving Aidan Elliott-Wheeler’s square ball, touching it past the defender and slotting home calmly.

A final chance for a fourth was spurned by Harris turned the ball onto the post but United were still able to maintain their perfect pre-season record.

Oxford: Cumming, Kioso (Spencer 72), Helik (Long 72), Golding (Brown 72), Leigh (Currie 72), Sibley (McDonnell 72), Brannagan (Bradney 46), Mills (Emakhu 46), Snowden (Goodrham 72), Roosken (Dembele 42, Elliott-Wheeler 78)), O’Donkor (Harris 72)

Crawley: Mannone, Gordan, Barker, Farquharson, Watson, Duke-McKenna, Di Biase, Pereira, Arthurs, Adeyemo, Krasniqi