EFL Sky Bet League One
Saturday 10 October 2026
Meadow Lane, Nottingham
Notts County… 1
(Finneran 90+1’)
Oxford United… 2
(Harris 18’, Brannagan 88’)
Oxford United battled to an impressive 2-1 away from home as they defeated Notts County at Meadow Lane.
Goals in either half from Mark Harris and Cameron Brannagan produced all three points, as United saw out the victory despite a stoppage time consolation from the home side.
Without a league game in three weeks, it was a welcome return to League One action for United fans, with more than 2,000 making the trip to Nottingham.
Following Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, Aaron Ramsey welcomed back his international players, with Ciaron Brown and Harris returning straight to the starting XI.
United made a bright start and almost took the lead inside the opening five minutes. Mo Missanga delivered a dangerous ball into the box from the right, which Siriki Dembele flicked into the path of Tyler Goodrham. From around 10 yards out, Goodrham got his shot away but could only direct it too close to the goalkeeper, allowing the opportunity to go begging.
It was a significant early chance, but United would not have to wait long to find the breakthrough.
On 18 minutes, Harris opened the scoring with an excellent example of his trademark tenacity. Pressing the Notts County defence high up the pitch, the Wales international anticipated the goalkeeper’s pass, intercepted the ball and calmly slotted it into the net to give United a deserved lead.
Ramsey’s side continued to dictate proceedings throughout the first half and created several promising positions, with the visitors arguably unfortunate not to extend their advantage before the interval.
Dembele came close to doubling United’s lead in the 33rd minute. Once again, sharp pressing paid dividends as the winger capitalised on a defensive mistake and collected possession on the edge of the penalty area. Driving towards goal, he unleashed a left-footed effort that narrowly cleared the crossbar.
United went into half-time with a one-goal advantage, although their first-half performance suggested there was scope for an even more comfortable lead.
Notts County responded by making three changes at the break in an attempt to turn the game around and apply greater pressure after the restart.
The substitutions helped the hosts gain momentum, and County enjoyed their strongest spell of the afternoon during the opening 15 minutes of the second half, winning a series of corners as they searched for an equaliser.
Their most notable opportunity came in the 55th minute, when Cal Roberts tested Jamie Cumming with a shot that the Oxford goalkeeper did well to push wide.
United weathered the pressure and continued to threaten at the other end. Goodrham went close to adding a second with what proved to be his final involvement before being substituted, sending a long-range effort crashing into the side netting.
As the clock ticked down, Brannagan almost put the result beyond doubt with a free-kick 12 minutes from time. The Oxford captain struck towards the bottom-right corner, but goalkeeper Belshaw got down well to keep the effort out.
Brannagan would have the final say, however, delivering the decisive moment with just two minutes remaining.
Substitute Luka Lynch won the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and broke forward, with United in a 3v2 situation. He released Brannagan on the right-hand side who was giving it everything to get to the ball before unleashing a powerful strike into the bottom left corner from 20 yards. It was a superb finish that gave United the breathing space their overall performance had deserved.
Notts County did manage to pull a goal back in stoppage time through Finneran, who struck a powerful effort from distance into the top-left corner. The late goal set up a tense finish, but United held firm to secure an impressive away victory and take all three points back to Oxford.
Attention now turns to another away trip, with Oxford travelling to Mansfield on Thursday night as they look to build on this positive return to league action.
Notts County: Belshow, Gibbons, McDonald, Bedeau, Roberts, Cooper, Kanu, Grant, Ness, Palmer, Samuels-Smith
Subs: Sanders, Longelo, Lipsiuc, Evans, Smyth, Tsaroulla, Rinneran
Oxford United: Cumming, Brown, Helik, Brannagan, Harris, Goodrham (O’Donkor 65’), Dembele (Lynch 75’), Currie (Spencer 75’), Kioso, Sibley (Andrews 59’), Missanga (Snowden 65’)
Subs: Eastwood, Long
