Blues Can’t Lose

The football Blues continued their excellent form, drawing 2-2 with Loughborough University 3^rd team in the league on Wednesday, before dispatching an Old Boys team 4-0 in a Sunday afternoon friendly.

This extends their incredible run of results in which they haven’t lost since March.

Following their hard fought draw, Oxford sit top of their league as they approach the half-way point of the season. They’re currently five points clear of second placed Staffordshire University, who have a game in hand.

The Blues had to come from behind twice, and OUAFC sabbatical officer Alex Biggs reported that “the game could have gone either way.”

Biggs singled out the performances of “midfielders Julian Austin and Jack Fletcher, who were in imperious form once more, and lone striker Adam Healy, who worked the line superbly, winning every header.”

After going a goal behind in the first half, the Blues came out strongly after the break. Ezra Rubenstein’s delivery into the box wasn’t dealt with by the Loughborough defence, and Healy was able to draw Oxford level with a sweet strike.

Oxford created more chances, but fell behind again, and it took the “cat-like reflexes of goalkeeper Tom Haigh” to keep the deficit at one goal with “a stunning save”.

The Blues refused to let their heads drop, and when Ant Beddows flicked on Healy’s long throw, captain Sam Donald was on hand to fire home the equaliser.

Donald said that “a draw was probably a fair result, and consolidates our position at the top of the table. Coming from behind twice shows the squad’s fantastic spirit and togetherness” whilst midfielder Austin called Loughborough “the best side we’ve played so far” and was pleased “to stay unbeaten”.

The Blues and Old Boys on Sunday

Sunday’s friendly saw a more comfortable match for the Blues in an amicable encounter with the Old Boys team.

Peder Beck-Friis scored a brace, his first goals for the Blues. Austin had broken the deadlock with an early penalty, and Beck-Friis’s first made it 2-0 at half time.

The Christ Church man bagged his second after 54 minutes, and Rubenstein made it 4-0 after rounding the keeper with 15 minutes left to play.

A minute’s silence before the Remembrance Sunday match

The Blues will be pleased with another good week, and play Derby away in a cup-tie this Wednesday.

Elsewhere, an early goal from Chris Wright gave the Centaurs a 1-1 draw in a league game with Derby University 4^th team, and the Women’s Blues drew 1-1 with Cambridge, Kimberly Kilmartin grabbing Oxford’s goal. The Furies miserable run of form continued however, as they shipped 21 goals for the second successive game, losing 21-0 to Worcester University 1^st team.