Saturday 22 August 2026
EFL Sky Bet League One
Sporta Arena, Stevenage
Stevenage… 1
(Roberts 90+7’)
Oxford United… 2
(O’Donkor 67’, Brannagan pen 86’)
Aaron Ramsey earned his first win as Oxford United Head Coach as United secured an impressive 2-1 victory away at Stevenage.
Second-half goals from Gatlin O’Donkor and Cameron Brannagan earned United their first victory of the season at a tough away venue, against a Stevenage side that conceded just 12 goals at home throughout the entire 2025/26 season.
It was a well-earned victory for the Yellows in a tough and physical battle to move onto four points after two League One games.
There were three changes to the United side that faced MK Dons the previous week, with Michal Helik, Peter Kioso and Louie Sibley all coming into the starting XI.
Unfortunately, just seven minutes into the game, Ramsey was forced into an early change when Jamie Cumming went off injured and was replaced by Simon Eastwood, making his first appearance since February 2024.
Donning the brand-new third kit, United started brightly, with the best chance of the opening 20 minutes falling to Siriki Dembélé. His effort from distance took a deflection and went narrowly wide.
On 25 minutes, Oxford created the first big chance of the game. A well-worked passing move ended with Ciaron Brown sending Sibley through. Racing into the box, the midfielder saw his effort from a tight angle saved, before the ball had to be cleared as it trickled towards the goal.
Stevenage enjoyed a successful 2025/26 season, reaching the play-offs with a physical style of play, and that was certainly on show in the first half. The final 15 minutes belonged to the hosts, who created two big chances in quick succession.
Both came from set pieces. First, Houghton got his head to a delivery, only for Sibley to clear the ball off the line. Then Carl Piergianni rose highest to meet a cross but powered his header just wide.
Half-time came at a good time for United, who emerged for the second half in much better style and almost took the lead just two minutes after the restart.
A well-worked counter-attack saw Sibley slipped through down the left once again, but this time his effort flew over the bar when he had options inside.
Eastwood had been largely untested up to that point, but that changed on 50 minutes when he reacted brilliantly to keep out Jamie Reid’s close-range effort.
Oxford were beginning to play some excellent football and felt they should have been awarded a penalty on 59 minutes following another defence-splitting move. Dembélé appeared to be brought down inside the box, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Three minutes later, Brannagan came close to opening the scoring with a free-kick right on the edge of the box. In typical Cam style, he stepped up and smashed the ball towards the goalkeeper’s side, but Marschall stood strong to parry it away.
Ramsey made two changes on 64 minutes, bringing on Stan Mills and Gatlin O’Donkor. Within just two minutes, the pair made an immediate impact as O’Donkor scored his first goal of the season to put United ahead.
Mills provided the cross from the right, delivering perfectly for O’Donkor, who rose eight yards from goal to head the ball into the net.
Then with five minutes left, Emakhu fed O’Donkor through on goal. With the keeper racing out, O’Donkor got to the ball first and was brought down. Penalty awarded; Cameron Brannagan stepped up and made no mistake to seal victory.
There was late drama as Jordan Roberts pulled a goal back for the hosts with the final kick of the game, denying Eastwood a dream clean sheet.
But it didn’t spoil what was a brilliant afternoon for United. Two games, four points, and a perfect Saturday afternoon, with the next game not until Tuesday 1 September away to Huddersfield Town.
Stevenage: Marschall, Piergianni, Freestone, Phillips, Magennis, Kemp, Earley, Vancooten, Pattenden (Houghton 30’), Reid, Thompson
Subs: Barden, Taylor, Roberts, Sanderson, Taylor, Patterson
Oxford United: Cumming (Eastwood 7’), Brown, Helik, Brannagan, Harris (Goodrham 88’), Emakhu, McDonnell, Dembele (Mills 64’), Currie (Spencer 88’), Kioso, Sibley (O’Donkor 64’)
Subs: Long, Missanga
You or your business can secure Gatlin O’Donkor’s player sponsorship package for the 2026/27 season. To secure your player sponsorship, contact commercial@oufc.co.uk today.