HARVEY Bradbury savoured every moment of his league debut for Oxford United and was not afraid to ruffle a few feathers along the way.

The 19-year-old was introduced as part of a double change in the 55th minute as the U’s climbed out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone with a 1-0 win at home to Gillingham.

United’s match-winner arrived just four minutes after the substitutions, with James Henry scoring from the penalty spot.

Bradbury was not directly involved in the goal, but made life difficult for centre halves Gabriel Zakuani and Max Ehmer in the final 25 minutes.

The former was signed by Fulham for £1m in 2006 and the teenager, who is the son of former United striker Lee, knew all about the man that was marking him.

But reputations do not faze Bradbury and Zakuani was booked following an off the ball incident between the players.

“I try not to think about that,” said the U’s youngster.

“I knew I was going to be against him. I’ve obviously grown up playing FIFA and playing with him.

“I thought now it’s my time to rough him up a little bit and and he said to me ‘let’s go then, let’s have it out’ and so I thought I’d try to live up to it.”

Bradbury has enjoyed a rapid rise into the first team since catching head coach Karl Robinson’s eye while playing against the U’s when on loan at Hungerford Town in pre-season.

He has impressed since joining on a free from Watford in August, progressing from the Under 23s to making his senior debut against Wycombe Wanderers in the Checkatrade Trophy a fortnight ago.

Bradbury even had the confidence to want to take United’s penalty.

He said: “It was incredible to get the nod and come on.

“There was a lot of pressure on the penalty.

“I wanted to take it but I thought ‘oh my first game I can’t’, so I gave it to Jamo and he put it away nicely.

“He pretty much took the ball off me.”