LES Taylor was left feeling hard done by after Oxford United were beaten 2-1 away to Sheffield in FA Women’s Super League 2.

The U’s had been well on top when a disastrous few minutes just before the hour mark saw them concede twice.

Carly Ward broke the deadlock moments before Rhema Lord-Mears’ wonder goal.

Although leading scorer Ini Umotong pulled one back late on, the Oxford boss admitted it was a frustrating way to lose the game.

“I’m a bit disappointed with the fact that they’ve managed to score two goals against the run of play, but that’s football,” Taylor said.

“All of a sudden you go from 0-0 and dominating the game to 2-0 down in three minutes.

“It knocks you back a lot, but the girls didn’t let their heads drop and they continued right until the final whistle.”

The U’s had worked their way into the match after the hosts had squandered a series of half-chances in the opening stages.

Goalkeeper Demi Lambourne was kept busy, although rarely tested, as she kept out hopeful efforts from Emma Johnson and Emma Lipman, with the latter also missing the target when gifted a free header.

But once they finally got going, the visitors looked the more dangerous side, with Umotong firing just wide after being teed up by Katja Hakala in the 17th minute.

The United bench were incensed midway through the first half when they were denied a penalty after Umotong appeared to be pulled down in the area.

But that only seemed to spur the visitors on as they got themselves on top at the end of the half and started the second with a spell of prolonged pressure.

However, the home side took the lead against the run of play when captain Ward curled an effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

Just two minutes later substitute Lord-Mears doubled the deficit with a stunning strike which left Lambourne with no chance.

Oxford continued to press and were finally rewarded two minutes into stoppage time when Ella Franklin-Fraiture flicked on a long ball for Umotong to scoop over the Sheffield goalkeeper, but it was too little, too late.

Oxford Utd: Lambourne, Haynes, Lane (Frampton 76), Umotong, Nutman, Franklin-Fraiture, Pickett (Baker 76), Hakala, Lee, Timms, Deeley (Casley HT). Sub not used: Cox.

Attendance: 414.