REVIEW OF 2018: October-December

EDDIE Pepperell claimed a career best success after winning the British Masters at Walton Heath.

The Abingdon golfer beat Alexander Bjork by one shot to claim victory.

Pepperell moved into the world’s top 35 as a result, virtually confirming his place in the US Masters next year.

Oxford United picked up a crucial win over fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle to move off the foot of the table.

The result was the U’s first win in nine games and set the tone for a positive month, where Karl Robinson’s side picked up five points from three games.

But Jon Obika and Shandon Baptiste suffered long-term injuries, with the former ruled out for the season, leaving Jamie Mackie and Sam Smith as the only recognised strikers in the squad.

Oxford City set up an Emirates FA Cup first round tie at Sky Bet League Two outfit Tranmere Rovers.

Mark Jones’s side advanced to the stage for a second year in a row after thrashing Hemel Hempstead Town 5-0 in their fourth qualifying round clash.

Didcot Town goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell was called up to the England C international side ahead of their trip to the Falkland Islands to take on the RAF.

Teammate Seth Humphries was named on the standby list by boss Paul Fairclough.

Oxford University showed no mercy as they cruised to a 102-0 win over Pacific Islanders at Iffley Road.

The Dark Blues scored 16 tries against their opponents, who played with just 14 men for over 50 minutes after Pio Tuwai’s red card.

NOVEMBER

A LAST-GASP equaliser denied Oxford City a place in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup, before they were beaten in a replay at home to Tranmere Rovers.

City striker Kabongo Tshimanga with the match ball after his hat-trick against Tranmere Rovers    Picture: Mike Allen

Kabongo Tshimanga’s hat-trick saw Mark Jones’s side come agonisingly close to pulling off a big shock.

But City conceded an 89th-minute equaliser in a 3-3 draw at Prenton Park.

Sky Bet League Two side Tranmere then won the replay 2-0.

Oxford United confirmed the appointment of multi-millionaire Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir to the club’s board.

But the former Inter Milan chairman’s arrival coincided with a second winding-up petition in eight months.

Results continued to improve on the pitch, with the U’s climbing out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone for the first time with a 1-0 victory at home to Gillingham.

They also progressed to the second round of the Emirates FA Cup, needing a replay to beat Forest Green Rovers.

United decided against offering controversial striker Nile Ranger a contract, but Samir Carrthuers was dealt a second lengthy lay-off on the knee injury he suffered on the opening day of the season.

Eddie Pepperell’s year came to an end after he was forced to pull out of the DP World Tour Championship with a back injury.

The Abingdon golfer had had a painkilling injection at the start of the month in an attempt to be fit for the climax of the European Tour season after suffering the problem at the HSBC Champions event in China.

Bradley Smith produced his best result for two years in his final MotoGP race for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.

The 28-year-old, from Forest Hill, finished eighth in Valencia.

Robert Kubica made a remarkable return to Formula 1 after completing Grove-based Williams’ line-up for 2019.

Enstone-based Renault secured fourth place in this year’s championship.

DECEMBER

SUMRITH ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth broke his silence on a winding-up petition, but Oxford United’s owner was unable to reveal the reasons for a second unpaid bill in eight months to HM Revenue & Customs.

United paid off the outstanding money at the start of the month.

Tiger kept quiet until his programme notes for the home game against Blackpool.

But he was unable to give any clarity over how the problem had arisen and what was being done to avoid a repeat, saying it had been caused by “outside factors”.

On the pitch, United continued to climb away from the drop zone when recording five successive home league wins for the first time since 1996 – a run which ended on Boxing Day in a 1-0 loss to Southend United.

Fans were also given a present on Christmas Day with Jordan Graham signing on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The U’s also reached the third round of the Emirates FA Cup and Checkatrade Trophy.

United’s youngsters produced a sensational display at Turf Moor to beat Premier League Burnley 3-2 on penalties in the FA Youth Cup.

Dom Waldouck holds the Varsity Match trophy aloft Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Oxford University beat Cambridge 38-16 at Twickenham to win the Varsity Match for the first time since 2015.

Tom Humberstone scored 18 points, while Dan Barley crossed twice in the 137th .