U's striker Beano gets back on goals trail (From The Oxford Times)

U's striker Beano gets back on goals trail

8:30am Wednesday 18th April 2012 in Sport By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

James Constable bagged a much-needed brace as Oxford United’s reserves cruised to a 4-0 win at Thame United last night.

United’s top scorer netted twice in a 15-minute spell in the second half and there were also goals for Simon Heslop and Tyrone Marsh.

Constable has scored just twice in 18 games for the first-team – the worst run of his professional career – but took both goals well.

The U’s will be hoping the double translates into goals for the first-team in their push for the npower League Two play-offs.

Mickey Lewis, United’s assistant manager, was happy to see the striker rediscover his touch in front of goal.

He said: “It was good to get Beano on the scoresheet.

“It doesn’t matter who it’s against, he got a couple of goals and might have had a couple more, so we’re pleased for him.”

With a host of players either returning from injury or needing game time to stay sharp, United’s reserve line-up was unusually strong.

There were seven first-team pros in the XI, including Heslop, Tony Capaldi, Jon-Paul Pittman and Paul McLaren.

The five-division gap between the sides was evident throughout, but Thame provided enough resistance to make the visitors work hard for their dominance.

Heslop’s 25-yard strike gave them a 1-0 lead at the break and they went on to tighten their grip in the second half.

Constable doubled the advantage on 59 minutes, seizing on a defensive error to run through on goal and slot past Thame goalkeeper Mike Higgs.

His second goal was even more emphatic, running on to Pittman’s pass and lashing in a finish from 15 yards.

Marsh provided the goal of the night six minutes from time, jinking past three challenges before finding the corner of the net.

With no injuries picked up, Lewis admitted the friendly could not have gone better.

He said: “It was perfect. Our thanks go to Thame for putting the game on and for playing it in the right way.

“The lads coming back from injury got some good minutes under their belts and everyone came through it.”

Oxford Utd: Crocombe, Lynn, Capaldi, McLaren, Long, Tonkin, Heslop (O'Dowda 67), Wilson, Constable (Smith 82), Pittman (Self 76), Marsh. Subs nSot used: Allen, Marvel Ekpiteta, Marvin Ekpiteta, Minter.