MATCH PREVIEW | HEMEL HEMPSTEAD V OXFORD CITY
Oxford City will be hoping to get back to winning ways at Vauxhall Road on Saturday, as they take on a rejuvenated Hemel Hempstead side.
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
After a valiant display against Braintree Town on Tuesday evening, Oxford City will be looking to get back to winning ways away at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday.
Canice Carroll is a doubt for Saturday after missing Tuesday evening with illness. Tom Harrison & Charlie Rowan will miss Saturday's game as they continue to recover from injury.
Hemel Hempstead on the other hand are a team on the up. New manager Brad Quinton has lifted Vauxhaull Road with a string of positive performances and despite sitting in 13th place, harbour play-off ambitions.
Saturday will be a tough test in Hertfordshire but three points for City would make a huge difference in the league table.
LAST TIME OUT:
November’s reverse fixture between the two sides brought a similar, ding-dong affair to that of Tuesday’s contest with Braintree - a 2-2 draw at the RAW Charging Stadium.
It was Hemel, under now former-manager Mark Jones, who took the lead after an unfortunate deflection saw Brooklyn Illunga’s strike loop over Ben Dudzinski and into the net.
City pressed on for a first-half equaliser, and the moment came for Josh Parker seconds before half-time; an outstanding long-range effort from the striker found the bottom-left corner, and saw the sides enter the break all square.
It was a similar story in the second half, when, after just 12 minutes, Hemel midfielder Josh Castiglione produced a smart finish after a late run into the penalty area, restoring the visitors’ lead.
Having gone behind again in the game, City were tasked with finding a second equaliser, and did just that in the 71st minute. A clever pass from Josh Parker found Aaron Williams-Bushell, who danced away from two Hemel defenders before finding the corner with a deft finish.
A multitude of chances in the last 20 minutes of the game saw the Hoops seek out a winner, but to no avail. The result continued City’s strong start to the season at home, making it seven games unbeaten.
FORM:
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
Form: D W W D L
Hemel Hempstead’s impressive start to 2023 under new manager Brad Quinton continued for the most part through February, where the Tudors took 11 points from a possible 18. Their upturn in form has taken them to 13th place - as it stands - and only four points away from Farnborough in 9th.
Hemel picked up an admirable draw away at runaway league leaders Ebbsfleet United, and even managed to prevent the free-scoring home side from finding the net, as the game ended goalless. Off the back of that positive result, the Hertfordshire-based outfit made the journey to Bath City FC, where the sides went into the game equal on points in 12th and 13th place. But it was the hosts who established breathing room in the National League South, opening up a three point advantage on Hemel, with Cody Cooke’s 14th minute goal enough to separate the teams.
The Tudors now return to Vauxhall Road, perhaps destabilised by Tuesday’s result, and face a City team hoping to bag their first three points since February 18th.
OXFORD CITY
Form: W D D L D
City’s unbeaten 2023 came to an end at home against a resilient Farnborough last Saturday, who came from behind to secure all three points with a 2-1 win.
Prior to the defeat, the Hoops had picked up five points in three games, with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Worthing, followed by solid away draws at both Taunton Town and Dartford.
Ross Jenkins' side will now be aiming to build on Tuesday’s point at home to Braintree Town - one that was, however, only salvaged in the dying stages, thanks to a 95th minute equaliser from Zac McEachran.
With just nine games left to play, a return to the formidable form of January and February will no doubt be the goal for City, as we begin to enter the business-end of the season.
ONE TO WATCH: Josh Castiglione
Arguably Hemel’s most dangerous player - and a goalscorer in the reverse fixture, right-midfielder Josh Castiglione will certainly be one for the City backline to monitor on Saturday. The 23-year-old has so far notched seven goals and six assists for The Tudors this season, emphasising his attacking threat.
Prior to joining Hemel Hempstead, Castiglione had played a handful of games for Southern League outfit Royston Town. Castiglione found form - and consistent playing time - after his move to Hemel, and has been one of the club’s success stories this season.
Hemel’s goals this term have come from an array of different players, with scoring shared throughout the team, but Castiglione’s record speaks for itself, and the opposition winger will no doubt have his eye on adding to his tally this weekend.
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