KEMAR Roofe scored against his former club as Oxford United’s pre-season schedule ended with a defeat to a strong Leeds United.

The fixture at Elland Road was a result of the forward’s transfer between the clubs 12 months ago and there was a certain inevitability about him opening the scoring.

Roofe’s neat finish in the 35th minute was the difference between the sides until the closing stages.

United, who battled well without creating a great deal, were only beaten late on, when Stuart Dallas’s classy finish doubled the advantage.

Despite the result, a third successive defeat to Sky Bet Championship opposition, Pep Clotet will have seen more encouraging signs from his side with just a week to go until the League One campaign begins.

Mike Williamson was handed a debut from the start, but new loan signing Jack Payne was named on the bench.

The Huddersfield Town midfielder was joined by triallist Leandro Cobas-Ladrero, a left back from Argentina who played for Gresley last season.

Less than a minute was on the clock when a hurried clearance from Leeds goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald went straight to Ryan Ledson, but from 40 yards out his rushed shot drifted wide.

It was a rare moment of danger in a tight game early on.

Almost 20 minutes passed before United threatened again.

Ledson snapped into a tackle in the centre circle and Josh Ruffels drove forward, spreading the ball for Marvin Johnson, who shot into the side netting.

At the other end, Williamson impressed in what was his first action of pre-season. The former Newcastle United defender’s positioning was excellent and he was quick to pass on tips to Canice Carroll, 15 years his junior, at left back.

The youngster was up against Roofe, whose first effort of the afternoon came when he cut in from the opposite flank and curled a shot off target.

Simon Eastwood saved from Pablo Hernandez just before the half-hour mark, but United were not really stretched until they fell behind in the 35th minute.

Collecting a pass in the box from Eunan O’Kane, Roofe jinked on to his left foot and fired a shot from eight yards which beat Eastwood at his near post.

The closest the U’s came to an equaliser before the interval was an ambitious effort from James Henry, who volleyed well wide after gathering the ball at pace.

Leeds defended well and were not afraid to put their bodies on the line, as demonstrated by Cooper taking a Johnson shot full in the face just before half-time.

The home side should have doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart.

First, a careless pass from Carroll in the box found Roofe. He squared to Hernandez, whose effort was well blocked by Curtis Nelson.

Seconds later came an even clearer opening as Roofe and Hernandez combined to find Wood eight yards out. The striker looked certain to bury the chance, but his shot was too close to Eastwood, who parried.

As the game opened up, chances began to fall for the visitors.

Ledson lashed a shot wide after James Henry’s free-kick hit the wall and the midfielder came mighty close with a deflected shot which just cleared Wiedwald’s crossbar on 56 minutes.

Both sides made a host of changes around the hour mark, with Payne among the fresh legs.

Inevitably, the wholesale substitutions disrupted the flow of the game.

Wood was denied by a combination of Charlie Raglan and Dwight Tiendalli, while triallist Furdjel Narsingh again looked assured on the right flank.

Cobas-Ladrero was given the final 11 minutes to impress, but it was another substitute who stood out.

Dallas doubled the lead late on with a classy curling finish from the left corner of the penalty area, giving Eastwood no chance.

Leeds Utd: Wiedwald, Ayling (Ekuban 78), Pennington, Cooper, Berardi, O'Kane (Anita 78), Phillips (Bridcutt 78), Hernandez (Saiz 63), Roofe (Sacko 63), Alioski (Dallas 63), Wood (Klich 78).

Unused subs: Green, Peacock-Farrell, Denton, Gomes, Jansson, Antonsson, Doukara.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, Ribeiro (Tiendalli 62), Nelson (Martin 79), Williamson (Raglan 62), Carroll (Cobas Ladrero 79), Hall (Narsingh 62), Ledson, Ruffels (Xemi 72), Johnson (Rothwell 68), Henry (Payne 62), Obika (Thomas 56).

Unused subs: Shearer, Hemmings, Kelleher.

Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire).