Bristol Rovers defeated Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium to conclude their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Micah Anthony came off the bench to score the match-winning goal, with the winger collecting possession on the right side of the box and drilling his effort across the goal and into the bottom corner.
Chances were few and far between before Anthony's strike, with Mark Harris bending a golden opportunity wide of the right post in the first half. Gary Rowett's men pushed for a leveller in the latter stages but were denied a leveller by an excellent save by Brad Young, who flicked Siriki Dembélé's attempt away from the top corner.
The win was Rovers' fourth in pre-season, previously beating Chippenham Town, Bath City and Yeovil Town, with the victory over Sky Bet Championship opposition sure to give Darrell Clarke's men plenty of confidence going into their Sky Bet League Two opener against Harrogate Town next weekend.
Oxford’s first sight of goal came through the dangerous winger Przemysław Płacheta, who was slipped in behind the defence and rounded Luke Southwood, but failed to capitalise on the opportunity—allowing the Gas defence to recover and clear.
However, Mark Harris had a much clearer chance just moments later. He raced one-on-one with Southwood but curled his right-footed attempt wide of the right post.
The Pirates were under pressure but carried a threat from crosses and set pieces. Jack Sparkes' deep free-kick was headed into a dangerous area by Bryant Bilongo towards Taylor Moore, who directed his first-time strike wide of the post.
Nevertheless, Oxford continued their spell of control and had the ball in the next soon after, with Mark Harris rolling the ball into the back of the net after an aerial battle with Southwood, but the referee blew for a free-kick in Rovers' favour.
Brad Young and Dembélé were brought on for Rovers and Oxford, respectively, with the pair getting into the heart of the action immediately. Dembélé evaded a couple of tackles before shooting straight at the Gas' shot-stopper from the edge of the box.
Gatlin O'Donkor, a loanee at the Pirates last term, then showed clever feet to move inside from the right before curling his attempt at Rovers' shot-stopper.
Darrell Clarke's men struggled to create many chances to score after the break before one of his substitutions came up with the decisive moment. Isaac Hutchinson was unable to get a shot away from the middle of the area before the ball bounced across to Antony, who struck clinically into the bottom corner.
Dembele was Oxford's liveliest player in the second half, and he almost completed his performance with the equaliser close to the conclusion. A crucial late save from Brad Young, tipping an effort from the ever-dangerous winger over the bar, was enough to earn the victory for the Gas and close out pre-season at the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford United: Ingram, Moore (Mills), Helik (Dembele 45), Placheta (Brannagan 45), M.Harris (Golding 85), L.Harris (Long 45), De Keersmaecke, Goodrham (Spencer 68), Currie (Leigh 68), Trialist (Sibley 45), Kioso (O’Donkor 68)
Bristol Rovers: Southwood (Young 45), Senior (English 63), Sparkes (White 63), Moore, Hutchinson, Thomas, Ellison, McEachran (Anthony 63), Trialist (Conteh 63), Bilongo, Dewsbury
Subs not used: Kilgour, Omochere, Leipus, Moody
Goals: Anthony
Official: Steve Martin
