The match took place, showcasing the young talents of both sides in a crucial league encounter.

The draw secured the championship for the Young U’s, who have shown remarkable resilience throughout the season.

Mo Missanga opened the scoring for Oxford with a well-executed team goal, assisted by Ethan Dickinson-Annell, putting the home side ahead in the first half.

However, the second half saw a shift in momentum, with both teams struggling to maintain control.

Despite Oxford’s efforts to extend their lead, including a near miss from Missanga that struck the crossbar, Exeter found a way back into the game.

In a dramatic turn of events, Louie Cayless converted a penalty awarded in the dying moments, ensuring the points were shared.

Despite not securing all three points, the Young U’s were jubilantly crowned champions, finishing ahead of Plymouth Argyle with three matches remaining.

Their success follows a stellar week for the Academy, having also claimed the Under-21s title. Looking ahead, Oxford will face AFC Wimbledon in a final to determine the Southern league winners, with the victor set to compete in the Youth Alliance League final against the Northern champions.

The U’s were defeated 1-0 away at Derby County on the weekend, with rivals West Bromwich Albion securing a 2-0 win over Preston North End to inflict more misery onto the Yellows.

Bloomfield’s men are now five points from safety with a game in hand on Blackburn Rovers one place above them, with the task ahead of them looking increasingly difficult as they welcome promotion-pushing Wrexham to the Kassam on Tuesday evening.

The weekend showed that Oxford cannot rely on other teams to assist them in their quest for Championship survival.

Video thoughts after a tough result to take in #OxfordUnited’s 1-0 defeat to Derby County. 💭

Refreshment needed for Wrexham on Tuesday after a performance which felt like one of a doomed team. 😬#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/EKvW0fm271

— malachi (@MalachiObrey) April 18, 2026

“You can’t expect any favours from anyone else,” the Yellows boss insisted.

“Our future is up to us and we have to make it happen.

“Our job is very clear on what we need to do in the next three games.

“We can’t take anything for granted. We have to go and make something happen.

Oxford United’s Ciaron Brown heads the ball (Image: Jason Dawson)

“We have to go and create our own destiny and that’s what we’ll be looking to go and do.”

Morale across the fanbase was low after the loss at Pride Park with many considering the U’s all but doomed.

“I absolutely understand that. We’re all emotional. We all, in terms of we love our football, right?

“You’re not going to find anyone who loves their football more than me, who cares about winning more than me. I hate losing with a passion and it hurts. And it affects us all.

Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer challenges Derby County’s Carlton Morris (Image: Jason Dawson)

“That’s just human reaction. If you’re going to try and claim it isn’t, then you’re lying. We’re all disappointed.

“We’re all down. But you have to lose that very quickly because football moves on, life moves on. We’ve got another opportunity tomorrow evening to correct what we were unable to do on Saturday.”

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The U’s have fielded a consistent starting XI on the past run of nine matches which has seen them defeat on only two occasions.

Oxford United’s Jamie Donley lines up a shot (Image: Jason Dawson)

This has helped conjure consistent performances over a relatively successful spell, but the Derby game felt like a fork in the road for the team, with some players looking burnt out and off the pace.

When asked if there would be changes for the welcoming of Wrexham in midweek, Bloomfield replied: “I would say possibly and possibly not.

“I think it’s really important that I try and strike the balance between consistency but freshness and we’ve spent some time with the players and we’ll be sending out a team tomorrow evening that we believe can compete in the manner that we need to compete.

It is 40 years to the day that Oxford won their only ever major trophy to date when they dispatched of Queens Park Rangers 3-0 despite being underdogs.

Trevor Hebberd opened the scoring five minutes before half-time before Ray Houghton doubled the Yellows’ lead in the 52nd minute.

Jeremy Charles scored with four minutes on the clock to comfortably lead Maurice Evans’ side to cup victory with the U’s also securing First Division survival that same season.

Mark Griffin, 55, was only 15 at the time and had been going to Yellows matches for eight years before the final.

“We caught the train from Didcot to Paddington and had to stand all the way,” Griffin reflected.

“The train was just a yellow and blue party.

“I wasn’t confident at all until the game started but within about five minutes I kind of knew we had it. Our fans seemed to be louder than QPR, more colourful. The yellow army in full glory.

Photo from the stands at Wembley during Oxford United’s 3-0 Milk Cup final win over QPR (Image: Mark Griffin)

“I can play in my head Trevor Hebberd’s cut back to take out [Hoops defender] Alan McDonald before the impossible near post finish. It was just before half time which was the longest 15 minutes of my life.

“Once Ray Houghton scored everything was just like a happy dream. We sang our hearts out.

“We didn’t want to go home and so we just sat for a good hour after the game not really believing what we’d seen. The stadium emptied and we just sat looking at green turf reliving the key moments over and over. I think we thought if we stood up it’d all melt away like a dream.

Trevor Hebberd after scoring Oxford’s first goal in the Milk Cup

“We didn’t dare break the spell until finally a steward pointed out we were the only ones left and politely asked us to go.

U’s fan Laurence Reade, 55, was also in attendance.

“Number one,” he answered when asked where the day ranks in his time as a United supporter.

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Oxford United win the Milk Cup in 1986

“Everywhere you looked was yellow and blue. The feeling of how big Wembley was. The old scoreboard with the bloke slotting huge numbers into grooves. Trying to take it all in thinking we’d never be back.

“Jim Smith broken but still happy for us as we sang: ‘You should’ve stayed at the Manor’.

Smith was manager of QPR after spending three years as Oxford boss until 1985.

“Maurice Evans sending Ken Fish up to receive his medal instead of him what a wonderful gesture.”

That image is one that almost all U’s fans recall with joy: Evans sent staff member Ken Fish up to receive his medal from the royal box as a gesture to thank him for his 20 plus years of service to United.