OXFORD United captain Sahara Osborne-Ricketts urged her teammates to quickly put their heavy 5-2 defeat at home to leaders Doncaster Rovers Belles behind them.

The U’s collapsed in the closing stages of the FA Women’s Super League 2 clash at Abingdon United’s Northcourt Road, conceding three times in the final 17 minutes.

However, Osborne-Ricketts feels the scoreline did not reflect the balance of play.

She said: “Obviously the scoreline was a bit harsh on us, but that’s football and we’ve got a game on Thursday and a chance to put things right.

“Doncaster finished well and they took their chances.

“There was a bit of sloppy defending by us, so there are things we can work on.”

  • Sport

Oxford were undone ten minutes in by a smooth passing move, which was finished off at close range by Beth England.

United responded well and 15 minutes later they were level.

A corner was cleared only as far as Kayleigh Hines on the edge of the box and when she hooked it back into the area, Kat Nutman prodded home.

The hosts could have taken the lead, but Holly Pickett clipped a post and Nutman’s shot was blocked with the keeper beaten.

However, with half-time approaching, Doncaster restored their advantage when Courtney Sweetman-Kirk latched onto a long ball and tipped it over the head of Demi Lambourne.

And Sweetman-Kirk effectively ended any hopes of a comeback 17 minutes from time when she notched her second, a long-range screamer, which left Lambourne with no chance.

Just moments later, Sweetman-Kirk’s hat-trick was complete after she rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Oxford did pull one back when Belles keeper Nicola Hobbs fumbled Katie Stanley’s corner into her own net.

But it was the visitors who would have the final say when Sophie Stamp deftly chipped the ball over a prone Lambourne on the rebound after she had denied Sweetman-Kirk a fourth.

Oxford Utd: Lambourne, Meade, Bruce, Osborne-Ricketts, Lane, Hines (Timms 85), Nutman, Franklin-Fraiture, Pickett (Low 66), Stanley, King (Allison 66). Subs not used: Cox, Chivers.

Referee: C Kidd.

Attendance: 407.