Jersey Mike’s Trophy
Tuesday 6 October 2026
St James Park, Exeter
Exeter City… 2
(Perry 7’, Gordon 32’)
Oxford United… 2
(Bradney 30’, Fitzwater OG 78’)
Exeter earn bonus point on penalties winning 4-3
Oxford United earned a 2-2 draw away to Exeter City after an impressive second-half display, with the home side earning the bonus point on penalties.
Harrison Bradney scored his first goal for the Club on his debut, marking a proud moment for the midfielder, but despite some incredible pressure in the second period, United couldn’t find the winner in their opening game of the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.
It was a very strong start from United, peppering the home side’s box inside the first five minutes, but with Exeter’s first attack of the game, they scored the opening goal. A ball into the area from the right found Taylor Perry in space 12 yards out, and he calmly slotted into the bottom-left corner beyond Jamie Cumming.
United were in control throughout the first half despite being a goal down and continued to work the Exeter backline without causing too much trouble.
On the half-hour mark, the pressure paid off as Harrison Bradney, on his United debut, scored his first professional goal. A lovely cross-field pass found Luka Lynch on the right wing and his ball into the box was met by the 18-year-old midfielder, who controlled his finish into the ground and into the back of the net.
It was a wonderful moment for Bradney, but it didn’t last long as two minutes later Exeter were back in the lead. In fairness to the home side, it was a stunning goal which regained them the lead, with Josh Gordon making it 2-1. The striker was meant to start the game on the bench, but a last-minute change saw him come into the starting XI and he made his mark, firing a wonderful shot from 20 yards into the top-left corner, giving Cumming no chance.
It should have been 2-2 seven minutes later, but Siriki Dembele couldn’t add to his goal against Cambridge United with an almost identical chance. Jack Currie played the winger into space on the left of the box and his curling effort just bent the wrong side of the post and behind.
A minute later, Bradney almost grabbed his second of the game, getting on the end of James Golding’s header from a corner, but he couldn’t keep his shot from close range down.
Aaron Ramsey made four changes before the hour mark as he looked to add an additional spark and get the team back into the game. On 62 minutes it almost came, with substitute Tyler Goodrham knocking the ball onto O’Donkor, who saw his shirt tugged inside the area, but no penalty was awarded despite the loud calls.
The chances were coming in quick succession over the next 10 minutes, with O’Donkor at the heart of the action. His best chances came on 64 minutes when he couldn’t get a touch on Elliott-Wheeler’s ball across the box, then on 75 minutes when he steered his effort wide from a good position on the left of the box.
The goal did come on 78 minutes, though, as United got back into the game with a well-deserved equaliser. It was a great move from Oxford, with Kioso sent into space down the right wing and his cross falling perfectly for O’Donkor. Jack Fitzwater had to try and intervene, but he sent the ball flying into his own net.
Leo Snowden then went close to his first Oxford goal four minutes later, getting onto the end of a bouncing ball in the box. His shot was heading towards goal, but it took a deflection and bounced wide.
It was Tyler Goodrham’s turn just two minutes later as he set himself up 25 yards from goal and sent a curling shot towards the bottom-right corner, which took a slight nick off an Exeter defender and fired wide.
How United didn’t win the game is beyond everyone at St James Park, with the most incredible drama coming in stoppage time. First, in the 93rd minute, Missanga broke free into the penalty area and his ball across the box fired off an Exeter defender and just missed the back of the net.
Then, in the final moments of the game, the biggest moment of the match came. Missanga broke forward again, this time centrally, and found O’Donkor on the overlap. The striker’s shot beat the keeper and was heading in, but for a miraculous goal-line clearance, with the ball falling back to Missanga, who steered his effort wide with the final touch.
It then went to a shootout to determine the bonus-point winner, with Exeter taking it after missed spot-kicks from Bradney and Golding.
Overall, it was a good run-out, with all eyes now turning to Notts County away on Saturday lunchtime.
Exeter City: Phillips, Samuel, Woodhouse, Fitzwater, Perry, Kite, Cummins, Oakes, Gordon, Birch, Cayless
Subs: Bycroft, Taylor, Watts, Scully, Lang, Alsop
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Brannagan (Goodrham 59’), O'Donkor, Lynch (Kioso 59’), Dembele (Missanga 46’), Golding, Currie (Leigh 59’), Sibley, Elliott-Wheeler (Snowden 71’), Bradney
Subs: Marriott, Griffiths
