Sunday’s evening kick off saw Aston Villa and Oxford United sharing the spoils after a late comeback from the U’s.
Youngsters Amy West of Aston Villa and Ella Franklin-Fraiture of Oxford both scored their first senior goal for their respective clubs in an end to end game that finished 2-2.
Both sides were keen to go into the six-week break on a high, but it was the girls in claret and blue who took the lead, when on 14 minutes Katie Wilkinson found herself unopposed in the Oxford box and able to head home a Beth Merrick corner.
The visitors had the chance to pull themselves level after half an hour as Gemma Simmonds – replacing the un-available Lauren Allison – attempted an ambitious overhead kick which was narrowly off-target.
The striker then found herself one on one with keeper Jess Myers, following Kayleigh Hines’ clever flick-on, but Villa’s number one came out well to block the shot. The rebound then presented Hines with a chance but she put it agonisingly wide of the left post.
A fine move from the Villains almost saw them go into the break with a two goal cushion as the in-form Olivia Fergusson sprinted down the right flank before releasing the ball to the on-coming Katy Moran, whose cross header was headed wide by Wilkinson.
The hosts didn’t let up with their pressure after the re-start and top goalscorer Fergusson tested Demi Lambourne in the Oxford goal, with a shot which was well held.
On 47 minutes Villa’s pressure finally paid off as West found space in the box to turn and shoot.
But not to be outdone, Oxford’s teen superstar Ella Franklin-Fraiture also fancied getting herself on the scoresheet and did so in impressive fashion after looking a threat all afternoon. The 17-year-old’s clever lob left Myers with no chance and halved the deficit for the visitors with 20 minutes left to play.
After that Oxford could sense the comeback was on and piled on the pressure. Beth Merrick replied for the Midlands side with two chances which she failed to convert, before the U’s made their opponents pay when Hines curled in a perfectly placed free-kick to ensure her side went home with some points.
The draw left Oxford in 7th position going in to the summer break, two points and places below Villa, who are now unbeaten in three games.
Villa head coach Joe Hunt was disappointed that his side allowed the visitors to get back into the game but hinted that injuries to his squad played a massive part in their performance.
“It wasn’t how we wanted to end the first part of the season and especially when we were two nil up and cruising.
“Credit to Oxford, the one thing they didn’t do all game was stop, even when we were two up they were still rattling into tackles and tried to make things happen out of nothing.”
He added, “We struggled to see the game out in the last 20 minutes, we were too casual around the pitch and dropped our intensity.
“It’s another expensive lesson we’ve learnt today, that’s five points dropped at home against Watford and Oxford when we’ve dominated both games.
“The break has come at a good time for us, we are desperate to get players back fit.”
