Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 21 July 2026
EBB Stadium, Aldershot
Aldershot Town… 1
(Oshilaja 20’)
Oxford United… 3
(Emakhu 28’, O’Donkor 29’, Jin Woo 78’)
Aaron Ramsey took charge of his game as Head Coach of Oxford United as pre-season began away to Aldershot Town with a 3-1 win.
United fielded one team in the first 60 minutes, followed by another 11 for the final 30, with preparations beginning to take shape ahead of the competitive action away to Leyton Orient in the League Cup.
It was the first opportunity for the small pocket of Oxford fans to see Aaron’s team in action, following a positive week away in Spain to round off three strong training weeks since taking charge.
Aldershot are nearing the end of their pre-season and they showed their match sharpness early on with a couple of half chances inside the opening 15 minutes.
The home side took the lead after 20 minutes through Kiki Oshilaja. A ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and the defender had the easy task of rolling the ball into the net with Jamie Cumming on the floor.
United came back with a few challenges of their own, the best one coming on 26 minutes when Cameron Brannagan thundered a shot narrowly wide from 25 yards out.
It was soon one-all with Aidomo Emakhu grabbing the first goal of the Aaron Ramsey era. Ruben Roosken done all of the hard work, winning the ball back high up the pitch before laying it across the box to the Irish winger who had a tap in at the back post.
One minute later and United were in front through Gatlin O’Donkor. A long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by the Aldershot keeper with O’Donkor chasing him down and with the ball falling loose the striker shrugged a defender to one side to slide the ball in.
There was one change at half-time, with Simon Eastwood on for Jamie Cumming. Within seconds of the restart, the stadium thought O’Donkor had given a two-goal lead with a stunning strike which went into the side of the net.
On 60 minutes the entire outfield team changed to get 30 minutes into the legs of the rest of the squad. There was almost an immediate action as Mark Harris fired a shot on goal on 65 minutes which the keeper had to stop.
Leo Snowden, one of the brightest talents coming through the Youth Academy, was one of those to come and he almost curled in a beauty on 70 minutes which required the goalkeeper to make a fingertip save.
Jin Woo was the next one to have a pop from outside the box, again, the Aldershot number one Nick Hayes had to produce a flying save to keep the South Korean’s effort out of the top right corner.
He wouldn’t have to wait long to score his first goal in Oxford United colours as he made it 3-1 on 78 minutes. Winning the ball on the half-way line, he raced down on goal and had the composure to dink the ball over the keeper.
Overall, a very promising start to pre-season with another away game up next away to Barnet on Saturday.
Aldershot: Hayes, Borgnis, Oshilaja, Odusanya, Gilbert, Dinanga, Tuma, Sandah, Stickland, Adom-Malaki, Oladunjoye
Subs: Patmore, Abrahams, Frimpong, Matton, Dyce, Wyllie, Peart, Lawless
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Helik, Kioso, Leigh, Brannagan, Sibley, McDonnell, Emakhu, O’Donkor, Roosken
Team after 60 minutes: Eastwood, Brown, Vaulks, Jin Woo (Bradney 80’), Harris, Goodrham, Spencer, Golding, Currie, Snowden, Elliott-Wheeler
Subs Not Used: Burton, Marriot
