Oxford United Under-18s got the new year underway with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win away to Bristol Rovers.
A Mubarak Abolade goal gave Oxford an early advantage, before Kesh Purcell scored off the bench to wrap up a 2-0 win over the Gas.
Oxford looked to start the year how they ended the last, being unbeaten in their final five of 2025.
Despite the frosty conditions in Bristol, it was the Yellows who got onto the front foot early on.
Abolade took just sixteen minutes to register the Young U’s first goal of the year. Josh Holton played a beautiful ball over the top to put the winger through, who slotted past the keeper in composed fashion.
Rovers struggled to get any control in the first half and left Harry Jones with little to do before going into the break.
Holton continued to pull the strings, sending a ball over the top for Abolade again, who this time took on a difficult effort which he saw smash into the side netting.
Oxford enjoyed the majority of the possession throughout the game, however, couldn’t find that final pass to extend their lead.
Callum Palmer-Flynn had the best chance of the second half, with a loose ball falling to the midfielder, however, he couldn’t control his shot and watched it drag wide.
The lead was eventually doubled by substitute Purcell in the 86th minute. A shot from range bobbled under the keeper's dive and put the game to bed.
The win makes it six unbeaten for the Under-18s and is a third clean sheet in a row for the Young U’s.
United will be looking to continue this momentum as they build towards their FA Youth Cup Fourth Round clash against Colchester United on Thursday 22 January.
Oxford United: Jones, Palmer-Flynn, Osborne, Gardner, Cramond, Doyle, Abolade (Kiriisa 73’), Holton, Lee, M. Vaughan, Missanga (Purcell 77’)
Unused subs: Payne, Jackson
