Wednesday 6th December 2011 ko 7.45pm

FA Youth Cup 3rd Round

OXFORD UNITED 1 (Marsh 58)

BOLTON WANDERERS 2 (Caton 4 Iliev 90)

Att 451

Entry £3 (as a season ticket holder, £6 otherwise)

Programme 50p

Its been many years since OUFC’s youth team had made the 3rd round of this competition, and since only the Lower Tier of the South Stand was open it was interesting to see the game from another perspective. And at those prices, what a bargain!

We drove to the East car park, and Dad wondered as we turned whether we’d get a spot. 10 seconds later, I counted 7 cars……

Those who decided against this one, missed a real cracker, possibly the best game I’ve seen all season. Highly skilled and highly committed, I actually forgot that there was Champions League football going on at the same time. Also watching were several members of the OUFC first X1 squad which is good to see.

The vistors took an early lead through man-of-the-match James Caton converting a cross from the right at the back post. For most of the first half OUFC looked slightly overawed, and it was noticable that after the break that Bolton’s confidence waned as their hosts gave them less respect. When Tyrone Marsh’s looping header beat the excellent Lewis Fielding in the Trotters’ goal, away heads dropped and it took some stern words from manager (and ex OUFC left back) Jimmy Phillips to get Bolton fired up again.

The talk worked and despite the valient efforts of tiring legs Bulgarian forward Georg Iliev managed to twist in the box to shoot past Dan Lincoln. Heartbreak for OUFC whose endeavours deserved a shot at extra time.