CAMERON Brannagan says the significance of scoring his first professional hat-trick at Gillingham is not lost on him.

The Oxford United midfielder struck four goals – all from the penalty spot – in an incredible 7-2 win at Priestfield.

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It was the first time the U’s have scored seven away from home in the Football League.

Brannagan’s last visit to Gillingham, in October 2020, was his final appearance for nearly three months after he was laid low by a rare eye infection that left him fearing for his sight.

The 25-year-old was reminded of this before arriving at the ground and reflected on an historic day.

He said: “We were saying that before we came. Last time we played here, the day after I struggled with my eye.

“It was like a blessing in disguise, maybe someone was looking down on me.

“I’m absolutely made up, it was a great day.”

United had missed their last two penalties in Sky Bet League One, but Brannagan sent Pontus Dahlberg the wrong way for each spot-kick.

He had to fend off substitute Sam Winnall ahead of the fourth penalty, with the striker searching for his 100th career goal.

“We said the pen-taker is the pen-taker. I had the ball, I was confident taking the pens and I wanted the fourth,” Brannagan said.

“The first one I had a gut feeling he was going to go left and the other three I was confident in whipping it across him.

“It was absolutely mental. We agreed the other day that I was going to be on the pens, luckily enough we got four today and I put them all away.

“The most important thing is the three points, personally I’m absolutely made up to score four goals.”

United raced into a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, with Billy Bodin, Brannagan and Matty Taylor all-but securing victory.

The No 8 then struck two more penalties in the first ten minutes of the second half, before Gillingham rallied and Danny Lloyd pulled one back.

There were three goals in the closing stages, as Brannagan’s fourth penalty and Anthony Forde’s first goal of the season book-ended Robbie McKenzie’s header.

“It’s a real poignant moment for us and for him,” head coach Karl Robinson said of Brannagan’s four-goal display.

“It was a sensational away performance off the back of a great win last week.

“I’ve never won here, so if you’re going to break that duck what a lovely way to do it.”