SAHARA Osborne-Ricketts fired Oxford United to a 1-0 home victory over Watford in last night’s FA Women’s Super League 2 opener, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

The U’s captain, who celebrates her 24th birthday today, fired home a 20th-minute free-kick.

It marked a perfect start to the season for United, whose preparations had been hampered by a sickness bug which ruled out Lauren Allison and Amy Chivers.

Four minutes after taking the lead, Gemma Simmonds thought she had made it 2-0, only to be flagged offside.

Simmonds went close in the early stages of the second half, drawing a save from Watford goalkeeper Shayla Burgess.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser, but they were thwarted by a determined United defence.

Osborne-Ricketts was just a lick of paint from adding extra gloss to the result when she struck the bar with another set-piece deep into stoppage time, but the celebrations started soon after.

Oxford United: Lambourne, Bruce, Lane, Osborne-Ricketts, Meade, Nutman (Hawlett 90), Stanley, Hines, Franklin-Fraiture (Low 71), Pickett, Simmonds (Pinker 83). Subs not used: Cox, Jaadla.