Oxford United Women left with a chip on their shoulder after painful cup ejection through penalties against Billericay Town: “It should have played out quite differently”

Oxford United Women manager Sam Rose was left feeling deeply frustrated after his side exited the FAWNL Cup on penalties against Billericay Town on Sunday.

United came agonisingly close to winning, but leading the game on two separate occasions it was not enough as 3-3 at full-time saw the side crash out 4-2 on penalties.

The final Billericay player scores and that sees Oxford out of the @FAWNL Cup

OUFC ❌✅✅❌
BTFC ❌✅✅✅✅

— Oxford United Women FC (@OfficialOUWFC) September 29, 2024

Rose started with damage limitation saying:

“I don’t want to sound negative because we’ve made a fair few changes today and it was about giving players who haven’t started the opportunity to start.”

Which is true as he made five changes to their starting eleven from their last game against MK Dons, however the signs of frustration were palpable in his words:

“Look at how the game played out, we went in front, they come back, we went in front again, they’ve nicked a goal in the second half of extra time, and we’ve dug in played some good football, got back on good terms, it should have played out quite differently.”

United went one up just five minutes into the first half courtesy of Ruby Sealey, which lasted up until the 58^th minute.

They then took the lead again in the 68^th minute via a Zoe Barratt free-kick, the lead this time lasted twelve minutes before another equaliser sent the game to extra time.

GGGGGGOOOAAALLLL!!

BARRATTTT!! 🚀

Barratt wins a free kick just outside the area and sends a rocket in to the back of the net

🔵 1-2 🟡 68' | #OUWFC pic.twitter.com/kfQXC9GQOc

— Oxford United Women FC (@OfficialOUWFC) September 29, 2024

Dramatically, Billericay took the lead for the first time in the 110^th minute, before Sarah King scored five minutes later to send it to penalties.

The fluctuating score line left players seething after fighting so hard throughout the ninety-minutes and extra-time, with goal scorer Barratt and late substitution Kate Wiseman giving brief interviews, clearly disgruntled by the long battle:

“Losing any game on penalties, is awful, we should’ve put the game to bed within 90 minutes, being 1-0 up, 2-1 up, it’s frustrating.”

“We played well for 90 minutes, scored three goals which should have been enough to win the game.”

The U’s will have to shake off their frustration, as they face Cheltenham Town Ladies at home this Sunday in the league and will be looking to bring positivity back to the dressing room.