Oxford United Women were subjected to a 9-2 humbling at Bristol Academy in their Continental Cup debut last night, writes Matthew Bruce.

Two goals from Spanish international Laura Del Rio and a third from Natalia Pablos Sanchon gave the hosts a commanding lead with just 16 minutes on the clock.

Katie Stanley pulled one back for the U’s with along-range strike.

But Pablos Sanchon hit back immediately for Bristol before Del Rio completed her hat-trick on the stroke of half-time.

United looked much brighter after the break and pulled one back when sub Kat Nutman’s strike was spilled over the line by keeper Mary Earps.

But the home side again came back strongly, with Nikki Watts netting a hat-trick inside 11 minutes.

And Jemma Rose completed Oxford’s misery with pick of the bunch seven minutes from time, leathering in an unstoppable free-kick from 30 yards.

Oxford United: Cox, Hines, Osborne-Ricketts, Chivers, Stanley, Allison, Caswell (Nutman HT), Pickett (Lowder 75), King (Franklin-Fraiture 66), Connor-Iommi, Lane. Subs not used: Mobbs, Pinker, Low, Lambourne.