YOU could not have scripted it any better.

On the eve of his 19th birthday, an academy product comes on for his league debut with his team desperately seeking a moment of class to salvage a drab display.

Deep in stoppage-time, he takes possession with his route to goal blocked. Six seconds of strength, skill, composure and technique later, and the ball is in the back of the net.

Even Tyler Goodrham could not have imagined his first Oxford United goal would be such a fairytale.

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The forward has been on the radar of U’s fans since becoming the club’s youngest player in an EFL Trophy game at Crawley Town in November 2019.

He has had injury issues since then, but Goodrham shone during the last two pre-seasons and regularly trains with United’s first team.

When he was one of three teenagers on the bench at Derby County the previous weekend it was viewed as illustrating the lack of strength in depth available to Karl Robinson, but the youngster's match-winning cameo against Cambridge United showed he was in the squad for a reason.

United’s first goal, points and win of the Sky Bet League One season in their opening home game helped deflect from an underwhelming display.

That is no disrespect to Cambridge, who arrived - despite the M40's best efforts - buoyed by an excellent first week of the campaign.

WATCH: Highlights of yesterday's game

After finishing 14th last term there appears little danger of Mark Bonner's side suffering second season syndrome, with yesterday's display following wins over MK Dons and Sky Bet Championship outfit Millwall.

Cambridge were organised and knew how to disrupt United's rhythm, stopping the hosts building any momentum.

They were useful going forward too and would have been even tougher to break down had Harvey Knibbs put them 1-0 up from close range before the break.

That being said, Cambridge did not manage a shot on target and it was encouraging to see the U's look solid for the second successive week.

READ MORE: Karl Robinson thrilled for Tyler Goodrham after teenager's fairytale winner

United did not keep enough clean sheets last season, but if they can build on their first shutout of the campaign it will earn them points when they are not playing well.

For all the talent in their front six, the U's did not threaten anywhere near enough and Matty Taylor remains isolated, despite Marcus Browne and Cameron Brannagan starting high up the pitch.

United’s substitutes did not affect the game at Derby but it was roles reversed as James Henry made an impact and Lewis Bate showed some classy touches on debut.

For all their established quality, it fell to a teenager to produce a winning goal that will live long in the memory.

The U’s are up and running for 2022/23, but they must find a way to combine their newfound solidity with a sustained threat going forward.