Mark Edwards reports on a low-key but encouraging display by the U's in their pre-season friendly against Coventry City

Julian Alsop slugs it out with Calum Davenport

Oxford United 0,Coventry City 0

(Coventry won 9-8 on pens)

Andy Woodman showed just why he is a goalkeeper after missing the crucial penalty as Oxford United lost the Bill Halsey Memorial Cup on spot-kicks to Coventry City at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

After the two sides had finished level at 0-0 in normal time, penalties were needed to determine who walked off with the impressive trophy.

And after all ten United players had taken their kicks, with just Andy Crosby and Julian Alsop missing, it was left to goalkeeper Woodman to take the 11th kick. And he put his effort straight at opposite number Scott Shearer, allowing Emanuel Weneart to give Coventry victory.

The match itself was a low-key encounter, but there were still some positives to come out of it for Oxford boss Ian Atkins.

New signings Julian Alsop and Derek Townsley, along with skipper Andy Crosby, were the pick of the United players, with Townsley particularly impressive.

For a 6'4'' midfielder, the former Hibs man showed some delicate control and nifty footwork, and with the right partner in central midfield, he looks like being a key man for the U's this season.

Alsop won almost everything in the air, but was deprived goalscoring chances by the lack of quality crosses coming into the box, while Crosby was arguably the best U's player on the pitch, making every tackle and header that came his way.

Coventry had the best of the early possession, Dele Adebola and Youssef Suffo both going close to opening the scoring.

Oxford's first real action of the half came when Scott McNiven crossed from the right and after Alsop headed down, the in-rushing Danny Brown and Steve Basham were only denied by Shearer's alertness.

Dean Whitehead's strong run down the right almost led to Basham opening the scoring, but Whitehead's cut-back from the byeline was put wide by the former Preston and Southampton striker.

The U's were dealt a blow when McNiven was forced to leave the field with a head wound after clashing with Adebola, which meant Atkins got his first chance to look at triallist Izzy Iriekpen, who spent last season with Cambridge.

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