Pre-season friendly
Tuesday 22 July, 2025
One Call Stadium, Mansfield
Mansfield Town… 0
Oxford United… 1
(Bradshaw 2’)
Oxford United defeated Mansfield Town 1-0 through a goal from Tom Bradshaw as pre-season preparations continued in winning fashion.
It was the first game back in the England since the end of April, with the final game of last season in Wales and then pre-season in Indonesia.
The U’s got off to the perfect start in Mansfield, with striker Bradshaw getting his second goal of pre-season. Matt Phillips worked the opportunity extremely well, working into the box before Brian De Keersmaecker backheeled the ball to Bradshaw who swivelled and finished first-time into the bottom right corner.
Already a much better start in two minutes compared to the trip to Mansfield last pre-season when United fell to defeat. There were plenty of new faces in the team compared to last July, with Brodie Spencer the latest of those, with the signing from Huddersfield featuring for the first time in Oxford colours at right-back.
It was a fairly uneventful first-half of football, with Bradshaw holding the line well upfront, and Phillips impressing in a more advanced position.
It was also the first time to see Greg Leigh this season having missed Indonesia to be with Jamaica's national team, and he had the next shot on target for the U’s on 33 minutes, but it was easily held by the keeper.
Pre-season goals don’t count in the award for goal of the season, but if Phillips converted his effort from the half-way line on 35 minutes, then it may have been an early contender. Nutmegging his defender, the former Scotland international tried his luck and almost found the back of the net with the keeper off his line.
Phillips did have the ball in the net five minutes before half-time, but it was ruled for offside. Cameron Brannagan played a stunning ball over the top for Stan Mills racing down on goal, with the ball falling to the number 10 to slot home but up went the flag.
A number of changes were made at half time, including striker Mark Harris who almost scored with his first touch as he was sent through on goal inside the first 30 seconds but blazed just over from an acute angle.
Michal Helik has bombing forward at every opportunity, evening having a few long efforts on goal, and he did nearly score on the 63rd minute but his first time shot from inside the box narrowly missed.
With 10 minutes left, it should have been two for United. Harris done superb to press and win the ball back before setting up Leo Snowden to finish, but he couldn't get the ball past Liam Roberts who saved to Harris who sent the rebound over.
On the 88th minute, the hosts had their best chance to equalise with Luke Bolton on the receiving end of a low cut back inside the box, but his shot narrowly missed the bottom right corner.
It was the last action in a profitable friendly for Oxford United. Next up the first of five consecutive home games, with Bristol Rovers at the Kassam on Saturday. You can purchase your tickets by following HERE.
Oxford United: Cumming, Spencer (Kioso 46’), Helik (Lacey 87'), Moore (Golding 60’), Leigh (Currie 46’), Brannagan (Griffiths 87'), De Keersmaecker (Trialist 46’), Goodrham (Snowden 72’), Mills (Sibley 60’), Phillips (O’Donkor 46’), Bradshaw (Harris 46’)
Subs Not Used: Ingram, Placheta.
Attendance: 1,476 (90 Away)
