Match Preview: Billericay Town vs Oxford City
City travel to the AGP Arena on Saturday to face an in-form Billericay Town side for a huge game in Vanarama National League South.
Ross Jenkins’ is looking to grab his first points as Oxford City manager after suffering a defeat to Ebbsfleet United in his first game in charge.
Billericay Town on the other hand have regained some much-needed form, picking up two wins from their last two against Hungerford Town and St Albans City, in their fight for survival.
Hoops in search of 3 points
City’s defeat to Ebbsfleet United places them 4th in VNLS. However, the fixture was not without positives as new signing Cole da Silva was handed his debut after recently signing with the Hoops.
The increasing amount of talent at City is giving Jenkins headaches in his selection process, a heavily changed team in their last fixture saw five changes from the previous game against St Albans City.
Billericay on the up?
Billericay’s time in the VNLS looked to be dwindling a few weeks ago, yet a solid run of results from 'Ricay has given the Essex side a new lease of life towards the latter end of the season.
Jody Brown’s side have pulled ten points from their last five games, including a shock 2-0 victory against play-off chasing Dulwich Hamlet, a 4-1 thumping against Hungerford Town and a 2-1 victory against St Albans City.
A win on Saturday for the Blues would leave them a point from safety, a true showing of determination from the Essex outfit.
Head to head
15th January 2022: Oxford City 1-2 Billericay Town
6th January 2021: Billericay Town 1-3 Oxford City
25th February 2020: Billericay Town 1-1 Oxford City
14th September 2019: Oxford City 2-2 Billericay Town
23rd February 2019: Oxford City 2-3 Billericay Town
Last time out, a Canice Carroll wonder strike was overshadowed by a Femi Akindwade goal just before halftime as Billericay Town took all three points from the Velocity Stadium.
Watch our highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1j_NiRuw_Q&t=230s
Ones to watch:
Ben Dudzinski:
A fan favourite at the Hoops, Ben Dudzinski has been a wall for City this season. City's number 1 has kept three clean sheets in his last six games, all of which City have come out victorious.
A core component to his game is his ability to pull out quick reactive saves, a talent which has helped City attaining the third least goals conceded in the VNLS so far this season, as well as produce some clips for his highlight reel.
Femi Akinwade
The forward signed for Billericay in early December after departing National League side Braintree Town in his second spell at the club.
The powerful striker has an abundance of pace to burn and a finish to follow which has played a key part in the Blue’s resurgence, scoring three in his last five, to grab vital points in Billericay’s attempt to remain in the league.
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