Oxford United continued their pre-season campaign with a win over National Premier side Eastleigh.
The match was surrounded by a number of ‘formers’, which included past United players Jack Midson, Yemi Odubade and Josh Payne, as well as club legend, James Constable.
The U’s strike past Eastleigh
All four started the game for Eastleigh, and both Payne and Odubade were involved in the first real opportunity but the U’s skipper Jake Wright made a vital tackle.
Former Burton Albion winger Alex Macdonald, who has looked threatening throughout pre-season, tested the home keeper Michael Poke with a sweetly struck, dipping effort, before a second attempt shortly after sailed narrowly over.
The hosts, spearheaded by Constable, had a decent opportunity to open the scoring ten minutes before the break, but the former Oxford United striker failed to capitalise after a tempting cross from Odubade.
With half time fast approaching, U’s forward Danny Hylton saw a header sail wide, before Eastleigh defender Andy Drury saw his effort fly over the bar.
But the U’s kept plugging away before the break, and they were soon rewarded for their efforts when Kemar Roofe’s free-kick was met by the head of Macdonald, who sent it back across goal for defender Johnny Mullins to tap home.
Less then a minute later and the visitors were two goals up as Hylton jinked inside of the oncoming defender before thumping a ferocious effort past Poke.
The second half began as the first ended. Constable was soon spared a decision whether or not to celebrate as his goal two minutes into the second half was ruled out for offside. Moments later, the deadly Roofe forced substitute goalkeeper Liam Noice to make a decent save as the U’s began to regain to bulk of possession.
But the visitors kept last season’s beaten Conference play-off semi-finalists at bay as they prepare for their next friendly, a tricky encounter against League One’s Coventry City.
