Match Preview | Farsley Celtic v Oxford City
Hoops travel to Farsley knowing that three points could confirm safety.
They say a week is a long time in politics. Well, two weeks in football seems to be much longer...
After a 1-1 draw away at Alfreton Town on the 15th March, results elsewhere meant the Hoops dropped into the relegation zone.
Fast forward a mere 14 days and Saturday's 1-0 win at home to Radcliffe has hauled Ross Jenkins' side out of the relegation firefight and built a ten point gap between City and the bottom four.
A demoralising 7-0 defeat at home to Buxton at the start of March now seems a distant memory, so perhaps it seems fitting that City can secure survival (if other results go their way) at the Bucks' own stadium.
A win against Farsley Celtic and defeat for Needham Market at home to Curzon Ashton would secure City's step two status for the 2025/26 season.
For Farsley, their demise has been well documented. It's been a difficult season for the Yorkshire side who, now have to travel 70 miles to Buxton for their home matches, due to delays of a 4G pitch being installed at their own Citadel Stadium.
After Chairman Paul Barthorpe stepped down, a new board of directors have stepped up to pick up the pieces, and the club face a challenge to see them through to the end of the season from a financial perspective.
Our thoughts go out to everyone connected with Farsley. After all, here at Oxford City, fans now that terrible feeling all too well.
On the pitch The Celt Army's troubles have had too much of an impact.
Defeat against City tomorrow evening would officially relegate our opponents, but the writing seems to have been on the wall for a number of months with the club forced to field a young side due to financial troubles.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Farsley Celtic v Oxford City
The Tarmac Silverlands Stadium – Tuesday 1st April – 7:45pm
Vanarama National League North
Referee: Oliver Noonan | Assistant Referees: Alexander Beeley & Adam Watson | Fourth Official: Daniel Sykes
Form (League Only)
OXFORD CITY - D W W D W
Talk about a turnaround. Five games in just two weeks have completely altered Oxford City's look on the VNLN table.
The Hoops are now looking up rather than down.
A second-half turnaround away at South Shields set the tone, before a convincing 4-0 victory at home to Warrington Town.
Another long journey to Scarborough saw the Hoops battle for another point before another impressive victory against Radcliffe secured a ten point gap to the drop zone.
Moreover, three clean sheets in a row is a sign of the improvement in the side that have just lost one game in their last eight league fixtures.
FARSLEY CELTIC - L L L L L
As we've alluded to, Farsley are coming to the end of a tough season.
Form isn't at the forefront of their minds though with off the field troubles.
They're also coming through a tough spell of fixtures against promotion hopefuls, so they'll be hoping to fend off relegation for another week at least.
Farsley haven't won in eighteen matches (a 3-1 away win at Curzon Ashton on Boxing Day), but they've picked up more wins in the league than fellow strugglers Warrington Town and taken other scalps against high-flyers this season.
THE MANAGER - DAVID STOCKDALE
A former professional goalkeeper David Stockdale took the reins as Farsley Celtic manager in February 2025, following the short stint of Neil Redfearn at the club.
The Leeds-born shot-stopper made over 500 appearances in the professional game, before calling time on his playing career at the end of the 2023/24 season and previously had a spell managing NPL side Blyth Spartans earlier this season, having taken over from Nolberto Solano in September 2024.
The 39-year-old came through the youth ranks at Huddersfield Town and then York City, breaking into the Minstermen’s first team for as a teenager.
Stockdale went onto have a career in both the Football League and Premier League with notable spells at Darlington, Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion, Birmingham City, Wycombe Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday, before finishing his playing days where it all began at York City.
ONE TO WATCH - ISAAC ABNKWAH
Defender Isaac Abankwah joined Farsley from NPL side Wythenshawe Amateurs in November 2024.
Abankwah featured against Pav Singh’s side earlier in the season in the FA Cup when Farsley overcame Wythenshawe.
A versatile and tough defender, Isaac bolsters the number of options for Farsley in the defensive areas. Prior to signing for Wythenshawe, Issac has also played for Macclesfield FC, Stockport Town and FC Squires Gate.
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