Match Preview: Hornchurch FC vs Oxford City
A place in the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup is up for grabs as Oxford City travel to Hornchurch on Saturday.
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
With the glitz and glamour of football's oldest competition only ninety minutes away, both Hornchurch and Oxford City will be hoping for a memorable occasion on Saturday.
The likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Portsmouth are all possible ties for either side if they win on Saturday and with the prize pot a big boost for non-league sides - it makes for a very interesting cup tie.
LAST TIME OUT:
Supporters were treated to an eight goal thriller the last time the teams met. The FA Trophy tie finished as 4-4 draw (AET) with goals from Elliot Benyon (2), Josh Ashby and Stefan Brown for the Hoops.
FORM:
HORNCHURCH FC
Form: LWWWW
Hornchurch are matching their impressive cup-run with impressive league form. The Urchins currently sit inside the Isthmian Premier Division Play-off places in fifth position.
However, with three games in hand over top of the table Bishop's Stortford, the National League South looks like it could be on the cards. The Urchins also comfortably saw off VNLS side Braintree Town 3-0 in the previous round, proving that they're one of the competitions coupon busters.
OXFORD CITY
Form: LLDDD
Since last-gasp defeats to Chippenham & Chelmsford, City have put together an impressive unbeaten run in all competitions. However, the challenge for the Hoops is turning those draws into wins.
In the previous round, City required extra-time to get past Plymouth Parkway, so Ross Jenkins will be looking for a much stronger performance on Saturday.
ONE TO WATCH: Sam Higgins
Higgins is on a red-hot streak, having scored six goals in his last four games for Hornchurch.
Sam joined Hornchurch in July 2020 from Chelmsford City.
Sam originally joined the Urchins back in 2008, making his debut at Canvey Island. Sam played for Millwall and Southend Utd in their youth set up, before joining Hornchurch in 2008, where he can best be described as ‘the one that got away’. He had two spells at Hornchurch, playing for Brentwood and Fisher Athletic in between, but he is better known for his goal-scoring feats at East Thurrock Utd, where he scored 275 goals in his ten seasons. Sam has also played for Concord Rangers and Chelmsford City, scoring eleven goals in 27 appearances for City in 2019-20.
WHAT THE GAFFER SAID:
“It's going to be another difficult game. We've had previous clashes with them in recent years where we lost on penalties, so we know it's going to be a competitive game.
"It's important we address this as it were any other game, it doesn't matter on the competition, the level, or the opposition so the prep this week has been really positive. It's important we take that into Saturday now."
TICKETS:
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HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME:
Twitter: @OxCityFC
Facebook: Oxford City FC
Instagram: @oxcityfc
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