Lewis Temple scored his first goal in a Wanderers’ shirt but couldn’t help avoid a first Central League loss as leaders Oxford firmed up their place at the top of the table, writes Pete Oliver.
January signing Temple headed the Whites level early in the second half from an Ibrahim Cissoko cross as part of an impressive 90-minute showing from the young defender.
But an own-goal – the last touch also coming off Temple – moments later ultimately proved the winner as the U’s extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign.
Wanderers had also gone undefeated in their first four league games but couldn’t preserve that record, despite pressing for a leveller with 10 men following the 70th-minute dismissal of Jack Mawditt for a second bookable offence.
Barring two rash challenges Mawditt had been among the scholars who made the most of the opportunity with a decent showing in a competitive contest played in ice-cold conditions at Lostock.
Oxford played their part and went ahead when Josh Holton scrambled home the opener with 20 minutes gone.
Wanderers had enjoyed more of the possession and first-teamer Cissoko, given a run-out to extend his game-time, went close with one early effort and Toby Ritchie also fired over the top.
The equaliser came six minutes after the break when Cissoko crossed following a corner for Lewis to power home a header.
But, crucially, the Whites didn’t stay level for long as they failed to deal with a ball into the box as the ball bounced in off Temple to restore the visitors’ lead.
Jack Dallimore kept his side in the hunt with one smart save but most of the action came at the other end as Andy Taylor’s youngsters probed for an equaliser in bouts of pressure.
Ritchie, recently promoted to the professional ranks, forced U’s keeper Monty Marriot into one sharp stop before wasting a free-kick opportunity while full-backs Xander Taylor and Tommy Adesina added to the threat after coming off the bench.
The Whites forced a succession of corners and one last chance fell to skipper Harley Irwin but his effort went just wide as Wanderers tasted defeat for the first time.
“It's a shame about the outcome, but it was a good proper game. They're the kind of games you want,” said B Team boss Taylor. “It had the feel of a competitive game with something on the line, which we don't often get.
“As much as we try and make everything as competitive as possible, in reality most of our games are friendly, so it's nice to have a competitive game and also a competitive game that felt like a competitive game.
“It got a little bit gung-ho, especially down to 10 men, but we still wanted to press high and have a go and try and take the game to them, which I felt we did.
“The last 20 minutes, it looked like we had the extra man and we were pressing on their goal and being brave. But, again, we just couldn't quite find that killer instinct.
“They were difficult conditions and it felt a little bit more like a war of attrition at times, so there wasn't loads of quality on show. But it was a great one to see which lads are up for the fight and can roll the sleeves up and say ‘look, I'm going to have a bit of this, I'm going to fight, I'm going to scrap, I'm going to win battles’.
“It was good game, good competitive game, so a good experience for them to play in.”
Wanderers: Dallimore, Mawditt, Temple, Trialist (Adesina 65), Smith (O’Neill HT), Irwin, Leigh (Kirkpatrick 80) Ritchie, Lawrence, Lewis (Nuttall 80), Cissoko (Taylor 65).
Oxford: Marriott, Palmer-Flynn (Gardner 57), McIntyre, Collins, Mole, Doyle (Dourish 65), Burton, Bradney, Lee, Halil (Osborne 75), Holton.
Sent off: Mawditt