MATCH PREVIEW | OXFORD CITY V HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE
Oxford City welcome Havant & Waterlooville to the RAW Charging Stadium for the Hoops' final home game of the Vanarama National League South season.
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
TEAM NEWS:
The defeat to Thame United in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup has given Hoops fans something to look forward to.
Charlie Rowan & Tom Harrison both returned to the starting line-up after long spells on the sideline, whereas Josh Parker also made a cameo appearance.
Otherwise, Ross Jenkins has no new injury concerns and after Saturday's 5-1 thrashing of Dover, has some selection headaches going into the match.
LAST TIME OUT:
City left it late to snatch all three points on the South Coast to secure a huge three points.
Josh Ashby broke Havant hearts in the 90th minute after latching onto an inch-perfect pass from Reece Fleet.
Ashby kept his composure to place his shot into the net and send the travelling Hoops fans into raptures!
FORM:
OXFORD CITY
Form: D W L W W
As we enter the final two games of the 2023/24 season, the battle for the top three has become a three-horse race between the Hoops, Dartford and Chelmsford.
However, City's previous two wins over Chelmsford & Dover have put them in a strong position going into the final games.
A 4-0 win over play-off chasing Tonbridge, a 3-1 victory over Chelmsford and a 5-1 thrashing of Doverhave seen City find form at a crucial moment.
However, Ross Jenkins' side will have to keep their finger on the pulse whilst in the driving seat.
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE
Form: L L D D D
Havant's form has improved of late but is still by no means impressive. Three draws against struggling Weymouth, Hungerford and Chippenham have continued a run of thirteen games without a win in VNLS (a run that stretches back to February).
However, the Hawks have undoubted quality in their squad. Joe Oastler & James Roberts will be no strangers to Hoops fans after their time with the club. Elsewhere Mohammadu Faal is one of the divisions leading marksmen with 20 goals.
For long spells in the first half of the season, the title race looked to go down to the wire between our visitors and Ebbsfleet.
It's not turned out the way they would've liked and they don't win on Saturday, they'll miss out on a play-off spot.
ONE TO WATCH: Mahammadu Faal
Amongst the VNLS top scorers is Havant & Waterlooville’s leading talisman who has 20 goals to his name in 40 appearances so far this season.
Muhammadu Faal joined the Hawks in the Summer of 2022 from Isthmian Premier side Enfield Town where he was particularly impressive in a year with 55 goal involvements to his name – a tally of 42 goals and 13 assists.
With a clear eye for goal, the towering forward has featured for the likes of Dulwich Hamlet and Kingstonian but most notably secured a move to Bolton Wanderers following his first spell with Enfield before eventually returning following a loan spell with Barnet.
THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS:
“They’re having a bit of a rocky period in terms of results, they’ll be really fishing for that win. I think if we apply ourselves properly, which we will when we train this week, we’ll address them as we would any other team. Whenever we look after the performance, the result takes care of itself.”
“I think on Saturday, Havant will want to come to us and beat us, they’re not going to give us that much respect. We’ve got to embrace the challenge, where we are, and the expectation that teams want to beat us now. We want to finish as high as possible, of course, but I think we’ll address the end of the season when it’s the end of the season."
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME:
Saturday's match is also our annual Family Day with activities and LIVE Music for the whole family!
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