OXFORD United twice came from behind as they paid tribute to Joey Beauchamp with an entertaining 4-2 win over Cambridge United.

Matty Taylor and Sam Baldock, two players who watched the legend at The Manor Ground as youngsters, scored for the U’s, while Cameron Brannagan struck twice in the second half.

Emotions ran high in the build-up to kick-off as the U’s paid their respects to Beauchamp, whose daughters led representatives of both clubs in laying wreaths behind the goal.

United’s academy then lined the pitch and the whole ground gave the former winger a standing ovation during a hugely moving minute’s applause.

Former U’s striker Sam Smith had not read the script and scored his first goal of the afternoon inside six minutes, only for captain Taylor to equalise late in the half.

Smith was on target again soon after the restart, but the lead lasted just eight minutes as Brannagan tucked home his first of the afternoon.

Baldock then dispatched Mark Sykes’ cross to put United in front for the first time, before Brannagan sealed victory in front of the Jim Smith Stand.

It gave the U’s their third straight win as they stayed fourth in Sky Bet League One, in front of their fourth successive 10,000-plus home crowd.

United were two centre backs down, with Elliott Moore out with an ankle injury and Tuesday’s match-winner Ciaron Brown on the bench after an arm infection saw him admitted to hospital on Thursday.

It saw Karl Robinson switch to a 4-4-2 diamond, with Steve Seddon returning at left back and Ryan Williams on the opposite side.

Marcus Browne was among the substitutes for the first time since re-joining United last month as he stood by for his first appearance in almost 14 months following an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

James Henry also made a welcome return to the bench, while ex-U’s striker Smith led the line against his former club.

United came out wearing white shirts adorned with Beauchamp’s face and the players wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

The hosts started on the front foot and Brannagan volleyed wide from the edge of the penalty area, only for Cambridge to take the lead from their first attack of note.

United failed to clear a cross and Paul Digby headed towards Smith, who was left unmarked to poke past Jack Stevens. The striker celebrated by goading the U’s supporters, which was particularly unnecessary given the circumstances.

It added an unexpected bite to the occasion and Brannagan received his ninth booking of the season for a foul on Jack Lankester, while Cambridge’s James Brophy and Harrison Dunk were also yellow-carded.

The U’s pushed forward in search of an equaliser but lacked width, meaning several through balls down the middle of the pitch flew straight through to Dimitar Mitov.

Seddon saw a shot blocked from 18 yards after Sam Long played in Baldock for the cut-back, before a Herbie Kane free-kick dipped too late to trouble Mitov.

The midfielder then clipped a set-piece into Long’s path after 23 minutes, but the right back miscued on the volley.

Cambridge were happy to play on the break and went close to a second on the half-hour mark, when right back George Williams was allowed to run through unchecked and fire into the side-netting.

United continued to probe, though, and got their reward nine minutes before the break.

There appeared little danger to Cambridge when Ryan Williams played a low ball into the box, but Baldock’s flick wrong-footed the visiting defence and Taylor tucked home his 19th of the season.

The No 9 pointed to the heavens as he celebrated a strike that moved him level with Matt Murphy in tenth place in the club’s all-time scoring charts.

But on a day United honoured one of their heroes, the villain of the piece struck again 11 minutes after the break.

It was too easy for Cambridge, as Smith lost Ryan Williams to take Wes Hoolahan’s through ball and fire into the far corner from the edge of the box.

The visitors put ten men behind the ball as they sought to defend their lead more successfully, but United took just eight minutes to restore parity.

Baldock had made clever runs into the channel all afternoon and played in a cross from the byline. A deflection took it into Brannagan’s path and the midfielder fired low into the net for his 11th goal of the season.

There were chances at both ends with 20 minutes left, as Stevens kept out Smith’s header and sent the ball straight upfield for Taylor to control and draw a save from Mitov.

United did not have long to rue that chance as they took the lead for the first time only 60 seconds later.

The U’s utilised the width they had been missing for much of the afternoon, with Sykes charging down the right and sending in a brilliant low cross for Baldock to side-foot home.

United were finally in front and there were more cheers with 14 minutes left as Browne replaced Gavin Whyte to make the first appearance of his second spell.

Meanwhile, Shilow Tracey and Liam O’Neil replaced Lankester and Adam May as Cambridge hunted a late equaliser.

United managed to take the sting out of the game, with Nathan Holland replacing Taylor, and wrapped up victory in the final minute of normal time.

Williams escaped down the right and crossed into the penalty area, with Brannagan benefitting from another deflection to finish into the corner.

“One Joey Beauchamp”, sang the home fans, as United ended an emotional day in fitting fashion.

Oxford United (4-1-2-1-2): Stevens, Williams, McNally, Long, Seddon, Kane, Sykes (Henry 90+2), Brannagan, Whyte (Browne 76), Taylor (Holland 83), Baldock.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Brown, Forde, McGuane.

Booked: Brannagan, Whyte.

Cambridge United (4-2-3-1): Mitov, Williams, Okedina, Sherring, Dunk (Tolaj 85), Digby, May (O’Neil 76), Lankester (Tracey 76), Hoolahan, Brophy, Smith.

Unused subs: Mannion, Worman, Jones, Bennett.

Booked: Brophy, Dunk, O’Neil.

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Attendance: 10,004 (646 visitors).