Match Preview | Brackley Town v Oxford City
Hoops look to bounce back
Oxford City make their shortest journey of the season as they visit Brackley Town on Good Friday (3pm Kick Off) in the Vanarama National League North.
City's seven-game unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday as playoff hopefuls Hereford defeated the Hoops 2-1 at The MGroup Stadium.
The journey to St James Park kicks off a blockbuster bank holiday weekend which has City playing twice. They follow up this away game with a home fixture against Rushall Olympic on Easter Monday.
Brackley Town come into the game on the back of three wins in a row and they sit just one point off the top of the table and are only outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference.
The last time the sides met, on New Years Day at The MGroup Stadium, Connor Hall scored right on the stroke of half time and a Shane Byrne penalty was enough to secure the three points for The Saints.
It's the third last game of the season for The Hoops and they will be hoping to get back to winning ways and finish the season on a high.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Brackley Town v Oxford City
St James Park – Friday 18th April – 3:00pm
Vanarama National League North
Referee: Harry Warner Assitant Referees: Jordan Griffiths & Lewis Mountain Fourth Official: Harry Price
FORM
BRACKLEY TOWN - W L W W W
As one of the in-form sides in the league, Brackley will be full of confidence coming into this game. Only Kidderminster have managed to pick up more points over the last ten games.
They are coming off the back of three wins in a row against Warrington (2-1), South Shields (1-0) and Scarborough (2-0). Their only blemish in their recent form is the 1-0 defeat to Kidderminster.
Seven of the Saints' 12 defeats of the season have come at St James Park but they managed to pick up 1.90 points per game at home this season.
Their defensive record is also very impressive, having only conceded four goals in the last eight games, which is far below their season average of just under a goal a game.
OXFORD CITY - D W W D L
The loss to Hereford on the weekend ends City's best run of games of the season. But City still have three more games left this season to climb as high up the league as possible.
The Hoops have won four of their last eight games and only conceded seven goals in the process. More impressively, however, they have scored 15 goals over the same span of games, only failing to score once, in the 0-0 draw to Scarborough.
This short away trip, followed by the final home game of the season against Rushall Olympic is a great chance for The Hoops to end the season on a high and push themselves toward a mid-tabled finish.
ONE TO WATCH - Connor Hall
Connor, 26, signed for Gavin Cowan’s side in time for a magical debut on 1 January 2024 scoring a home hat-trick against local rivals Banbury United and went on to score 9 goals in 23 appearances in that first season.
Connor featured for Chorley scoring 38 goals in 92 appearances over three seasons before joining National League Solihull Moors.
Loans spells at Farnborough and then Brackley led to Cowan snapping him up for the 2024-25 season. Connor is the older brother of Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall.
THE MANAGER - Gavin Cowan
Cowan joined Brackley in 2023 after the club had lost in the Vanarama National League North playoffs. During his first year in charge of The Saints, Cowan guided his side to another playoff final but they lost 2-1 to Boston United.
Cowan enjoyed a long playing career, notably playing for Shrewsbury Town in the Football League. He played 15 times for Shrewsbury in 2005/06 before being sent on loan to Kidderminster Harriers. After that, he spent long stints at Nuneaton and AFC Telford.
Cowan also has a career away from Brackley Town, In December 2021 Cowan, along with his ex Shrewsbury Town teammates Dave Edwards and Sam Aiston, launched the podcast, In The Stiffs.
Cowan is also both founder, and head coach of his own Football Academy, coaching Children on Football, life skills and general guidance on a healthy life style.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
As per usual, we will be following the game via our Social Channels, including our new WhatsApp Channel where you can read minute-by-minute action as the LIVE event occurs! You can sign up for free HERE.
There's also LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website via BBC Radio Oxford.
