Oxford United 0, Marbella 1

OXFORD United’s training camp in Spain was rounded off with a narrow defeat in a fiercely competitive friendly against Marbella.

The tourists had goals ruled out for offside from Wes Thomas and James Roberts, while Thomas and Chris Maguire hit the woodwork as Marbella’s goal led a charmed life.

The game was anything but friendly at times and the rugged local side, who play in the third tier, finished with five players in the referee’s notebook.

They were noticeably tougher opposition than Alhaurin de la Torre, who United beat 2-0 on Tuesday.

It took the U’s time to make headway, with 31 minutes on the clock when Dan Crowley unlocked the door for Thomas to slot home from an offside position.

New signing Maguire came on earlier than expected, with a sore hip forcing Alex MacDonald off.

The Scot was hacked down 25 yards out and from the resulting free-kick he rattled the Marbella goalkeeper’s right-hand post.

United were on top, with Ryan Taylor also forcing a save, but five minutes before the break they fell behind to a neat finish.

Thomas came close to an immediate response, heading Crowley’s centre against the crossbar.

United’s pursuit of an equaliser continued after the break.

The goalkeeper denied Taylor, Thomas and – most spectacularly – Maguire from another well-hit free-kick, all before the hour mark.

As the game wore on the substitutions mounted up, along with the fouls from the Spanish side.

On a couple of occasions the game briefly boiled over, with John Lundstram and James Roberts losing their cool after being fouled.

Roberts also had a goal chalked off, tapping in a rebound from an offside position seconds after coming off the bench, as United were unable to find a way through.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood (Stevens 68), Ribeiro (Long 60), Dunkley (Nelson HT), Martin (Cundy 68), Skarz (Welch-Hayes 60), Crowley (Giles 70), Lundstram (Ashby 68), Sercombe (Rothwell 60), MacDonald (Maguire 24), Taylor (Roberts 60), Thomas (Jeacock 70).