NATASHA Caswell relished the experience of taking on Everton’s stars, even if Oxford United Ladies’ FA Women’s Cup run ended in a heavy defeat, writes DAVID PRITCHARD.

The Women’s Super League side ran out 7-0 winners in the fifth round tie at the Kassam Stadium.

It halted United’s best ever run in the competition, but despite the result Caswell felt the team could be proud of their efforts.

She said: “Maybe we gave them a bit too much respect, but we can’t compete at that level yet.

“I still enjoyed it, playing in front of a crowd at the Kassam against the likes of Jill Scott, who played for Great Britain in the Olympics, was a great experience, no matter what the scoreline.

“This run has been an added bonus for us, we’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Manager Richard Blackmore thinks coming up against a top flight side will benefit his players in the long run as they refocus on winning promotion to the Women’s Premier League Southern Division.

He said: “It was a learning curve against one of the top sides in the country.

“They put out their strongest team and had been to watch us twice because they didn’t want to take us for granted.

“The run has been brilliant for us, to get through to the last 16 out of 350 teams is a great achievement.

“It has brought us some good exposure and has done female football in Oxford the world of good.

“Now we’ll be concentrating on winning the league.

“There are five games left and if we win those we’ll be promoted, which was always our aim.”