OXFORD United scored three times in the first 18 minutes of the second half to continue their 100 per cent pre-season record at Banbury United.

A very young U’s side were in control before the break without making it count, but found their ruthless streak after the interval.

Gatlin O’Donkor bagged his fifth goal of pre-season within 120 seconds of the restart, before two players who were on target against Hayes & Yeading United last night found the net.

Derick Osei tucked home a penalty, with Tyler Goodrham’s delicious chip completing the scoring.

A United starting line-up featuring nine teenagers had an average age of less than 18, with 22-year-old Osei the senior figure.

James Golding, Michael Elechi, Goodrham and Josh Johnson were included in the XI for the second evening running, while Ben Watt began on the bench.

Kie Plumley started in goal, after Banbury had to borrow him for this fixture last pre-season.

The hosts had five trialists in their line-up this time around, as well as new signings Charlie Pattison, Ben Acquaye and Morgan Roberts.

United’s youngsters looked to control possession from the off, but were unable to translate their dominance into clear-cut chances.

The first major opportunity of the evening fell to Banbury, as one trialist combined with another to set the latter away 16 minutes in.

The Puritans No 16 was through on goal, only for Plumley to race off his line and block the shot with his feet.

Banbury were growing into the game, but the U’s continued to dominate the ball - only for a poor end-product to let them down more than once.

United’s best two chances fell to O’Donkor and the striker will be especially frustrated he did not bury the first, which came after 25 minutes.

The visitors worked possession neatly down the left and Enrique Tiamuna cut the ball back from the byline, but the striker blazed well over from six yards.

Another opportunity fell O'Donkor’s way five minutes before the break as he showed great movement to drift away from his marker, but he could only head straight at Jack Harding.

After failing to beat the goalkeeper in the first half, O’Donkor came out on top within two minutes of the restart.

Harding managed to block the striker’s path as he chased a pass, but possession fell loose and the U’s man rolled the ball into the empty net.

United had got the crucial opener and seven minutes later they were 2-0 up, this time from the spot.

Osei raced away down the left and was hauled down as he shot, before getting straight up to send Harding the wrong way from 12 yards.

Another goal followed just after the hour mark, as Goodrham sealed victory with his second excellent finish in 24 hours.

The forward saw Harding off his line as he chased a ball down the right and, without missing a beat, chipped the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Both sides made plenty of changes but Banbury stuck to their task, with substitutes Henry Landers and Chris Wreh causing problems.

The former North Leigh forward lashed the hosts’ best chance wide late on, while replacement U's goalkeeper Eddie Brearey made a fine save from a trialist in the fading light.

Banbury United (4-4-2): Harding, C Roberts, Trialist, Langmead, Trialist, M Roberts, Pattison, Trialist, Acquaye, Trialist, Trialist.

Substitutes: Westbrook, Landers, Wreh, Marshall, MacDonald.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Plumley (Brearey 65), Sade, Nosakhare, Golding, Elechi (Watt 54), Tiamuna (Masters 65), Johnson (Trialist 65), Anifowose, Goodrham (Owens 65), O’Donkor (Smith 65), Osei (Spasov 65).

Unused sub: Barnsley.

Attendance: 454.