Charlton send United crashing out

Article by George Dugdale Tuesday, August 6th, 2013  

A Simon Church brace helped to ensure that Oxford United were unceremoniously dumped out of the League Cup by Charlton Athletic at The Valley. The former Reading striker struck once in either half to give Chris Wilder’s men no chance of an upset.

United made four changes from the thumping win over Portsmouth at the weekend, with Alfie Potter, Deane Smalley, Dave Kitson and Sean Rigg replaced by James Constable, Asa Hall, Ryan Williams and debutant Callum O’Dowda. The hosts made 10 changes from their opening day defeat to Bournemouth, with only Ben Hamer keeping his place in the side.

Neither side created anything in the opening exchanges, but United fell behind from the first meaningful effort as Charlton were left thanking some good fortune. Joe Pigott bundled forward on the edge of the United box before Danny Rose’s attempted tackle rebounded off the attacker and fell straight into the path of Welshman Church. He took one touch before thumping the ball past Ryan Clarke to give the Championship side the advantage.

Courageous defending from Jake Wright and Johnny Mullins kept the Addicks at bay, before United began to pose a threat of their own as the half-time whistle approached. First the lively Ryan Williams curled narrowly over the angle of post and bar, before Constable drove wide after neat interplay with O’Dowda.

United’s best moment of the half came from a surging Mullins run and neat pass to release the Australian winger Williams in the area. He closed in on goal from the angle, but saw his effort hacked clear by a mixture of Ben Hamer and Leon Cort.

United were very much in the contest at the interval, but their challenge became twice as difficult when Danny Green thumped a free-kick (which shall be the first described as softly awarded on these pages this season…) through a crowd of bodies and into Clarke’s bottom right-hand corner.

The visitors readied Deane Smalley and Alfie Potter on the sidelines as Chris Wilder called for the cavalry, but his side were 3-0 down and out of the game by the next stoppage in play. A speculative shot from distance was heading well wide of the target, but fortuitously fell to Church in the area. His first touch and finish were of the highest quality and left Clarke picking the ball from his net for the third time.

The introduction of the goalscorers from the south-coast victory did lift Oxford and a twisting Potter run could have resulted in a goal had it not been for the imposing frame of central defender Cort. O’Dowda also showcased his ability, forcing a corner after a mazy dribble that left Laurie Wilson in a spin.

United had shown spirit in the final half hour, but were sent on their way as Jake Wright mistimed a tackle on Marvin Sordell in the penalty area. Pigott stepped up to scuff the ball under Clarke’s body to give the scoreline a gloss that emphasised the gulf in quality between the sides, even if the men in yellow were matching their opponents for effort.

This was a step up in class from the challenge posed by Portsmouth, but provides a slight reminder that not every game this season will be quite as much fun. However, with no injuries, no suspensions and a big home game against Bury to kick things off at the Kassam on Saturday looming, the positivity provided by the opening day victory will not be forgotten.

Attendance: 4,935               Away: 771

 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 at 10:21 pm and appears under 2013, Match Report. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

© Rage Online 1998 - 2024 All rights reserved. If you want to copy stuff, please quote the source

another fine mash from ox9encoding