A flash of anger saw Libby Wilkinson sent off with 20 minutes left to play and eventually Oxford made the advantage work with Anaya Gray finding the winner.

Emma Pearmine’s side travelled to Court Place Farm hoping for a more competitive season after finishing ninth last year.

Five of the summer signings got the nod to start while Sharna Capel-Watson and Amy Smith were on the bench.

The hosts were quick out the blocks and won a couple of early corners, but it was from open play that they broke the deadlock.

An Oxford throw in found Crouch who muscled away from Charlotte Warhurst and Charlie Snelling before curling the ball into the net from 20-yards out.

Winchester’s defence was kept busy with Charlene Rooney and Sam Burt called into action early on before Shayne Prasad found herself through on goal only to smash the ball well over the goal.

With rolling subs in play Pearmine turned to her bench to introduce Eliza Eaton after 22 minutes and the teenager had a chance within seconds, but the shot flew straight at Grace Amos who blocked.

Opportunities were created by both sides but there was very little in terms of clear-cut changes arose.

Ellie White proved to be a constant threat and as the game headed towards the break, the forward forced Parker into a superb double save.

Then minutes later Prasad saw a shot blocked by Amos before Laura da Silva hit the post from the rebound, the closest the Flyers had come to a goal.

More changes were made at the break which included Eloise Powell-Rowland making her debut and Emily McDonough being introduced for the first time in the game.

Da Silva saw a shot blocked while the substitute McDonough put the rebound wide.

Oxford hadn’t relented on their pressure as they overturned possession to attack however, Parker blocked well to deny a second goal.

With 59 minutes played McDonough pressed Amos who looked to play out from the back, but the winger’s foot got in the way.

The ball ricochetted off McDonough’s foot and trickled past the keeper into the net for the equaliser.

The momentum did look to have changed from then, especially after the introduction of Capel-Watson for her second debut and Amy Smith returned to the pitch however, things changed after a heated couple of minutes.

Prasad was booked for dissent, followed a few minutes later by a red card for Wilkinson who exchanged a few words with the referee.

Winchester were down to 10-players with just under 20 minutes to play.

Oxford pushed forward looking to exploit the extra player.

The pressure paid off when Gray intercepted a poor defensive pass and strode into clear space before firing into the roof of the net.

Debutant Emma Whitlock forced Amos into a good save as Winchester’s hopes of an equaliser slipped away.

The final whistle came and it was a narrow loss to a team to which the Flyers lost heavily to last season.

Full-time: Oxford City 2 Winchester City Flyers 1