MATCH PREVIEW | OXFORD CITY VS ALTRINCHAM
City look to bounce back in front of the TNT Sports cameras.
It's safe to say things haven't gone to plan for the Hoops in the last two games. Two 4-0 defeats to Oldham Athletic and Gateshead has been tough to take for City, however this City team are made of sterner stuff and will look to bounce back from last week with a result against a good Altrincham side.
Phil Parkinson's side come into this match in seventh position in the Vanarama National League and three points for them would help them keep pace with the front runners.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Oxford City vs Altrincham
Vanarama National League
The RAW Charging Stadium, Marston, Oxford
Saturday 30th September, 17:30
Referee: Matthew Russell | Assistants: Oliver Spender & Andrew Ellis | Fourth Official: Matthew Jackson
Match Sponsors: AJB Treecare
OVERVIEW
The Hoops have carved out a reputation of being difficult to beat in the National League, however, the last two matches hasn't panned out that way for Ross Jenkins' side.
Despite 4-0 defeats to Oldham Athletic and Gateshead, there's a case to put a line through these two results. The 4-0 defeat to a rejuvenated Oldham away at Boundary Park was perhaps a tad harsh on the Hoops, whereas Tuesday's defeat saw a Gateshead was a fair scoreline after the Heed simply blew City away.
Although, before those last week, City were on a seven-match unbeaten run.
Alty on the other hand have one of the division's most underrated Managers in Phil Parkinson, and under 'Parky's' leadership, the Manchester-based side keep going from strength to strength on and off the pitch.
After their success on the pitch, the Robins made the transition to a full-time model and come into this match inside the play-off places.
They're unbeaten in four games, and their only two defeats came against two impressive sides in Bromley and Barnet. Chris Conn-Clarke has started this season in inspired form with six goals to his name already. City will have to be at their very best to stop them this evening.
TEAM NEWS
There was some positive news on the injury front for Ross Jenkins last week.
Midfielder Nya Kirby returned from a short spell on the sidelines and Josh Parker returned to the starting XI to lead the line after dropping to the bench at Boundary Park.
Alfie Potter has continued to stay injury free, despite returning to action a little sooner than planned and is available for selection.
New signing Renny Smith could make his full debut after making a brief cameo on Tuesday evening. Josh Ashby remains a doubt.
RECENT FORM
Oxford City - W D D L L
For the first time since the opening three games of the season, the Hoops have back-to-back defeats on their record.
However, as previously alluded too, perhaps you can excuse those two results against top quality opposition where the Hoops weren't at their best.
Both of City's wins have come at the RAW Charging Stadium this season, a run they'll be hoping to extend in front of the TNT Sports Cameras.
Altrincham - L D D W W
Altrincham have only been beaten twice this season, and those two defeats were against two top teams in Bromley & Barnet.
However, since those two losses, Phil Parkinson's men have really come into their own. Two draws away at Wealdstone and at home to Hartlepool got the team back on track, but a 6-1 thrashing of Ebbsfleet United really made the league take notice of the impressive Robins.
Last time out they secured a solid 1-0 victory away at Maidenhead United for their first back-to-back victories of the season. They'll be hoping to make it three on the bounce against City.
ONE TO WATCH - Chris Conn-Clarke
The Alty midfielder has started this season in emphatic fashion!
The Burnley academy graduate already has six goals to his name, the best of which was a stunning winner in Alty's last match away at Maidenhead.
He's no stranger to a screamer, fans may have even seen the former Northern Irish U21 international's superb free-kick against Ebbsfleet after it did the rounds on social media.
This is technically his second spell with the Robins after signing on loan from League One side Fleetwood Town. Chorley and Waterford in his career.
HAVE WE MET BEFORE?
The teams last met in National League North ten years ago!
City took a point away in Manchester after Scott Leather's own goal and a late Darren Pond goal cancelled out goals from James Walshaw and Simon Richman.
In OX3 later on that season, Altrincham enacted their revenge. A 2-1 defeat helped the Robins in their promotion push. Again James Walshaw got himself on the scoresheet before Jake Moult scored a thunderbolt to seal the three points. Kayden Jackson scored a late consolation for the Hoops.
Pictured below: Current City assistant Manager Andy Ballard wins a header in the air against the Robins.
THE MANAGER - Phil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson was appointed on 28 April 2017, the eve of the last game of the 2016-17 season in which Altrincham had been relegated to the Northern Premier League. He had managed The Dabbers since February 2015 and in that time he had transformed them from a relegation-threatended club to promotion contenders. Phil also took Nantwich to the FA Trophy semi-finals in 2016.
As a player, he was a junior at Crewe Alexandra, and then at Reading, before having a year at Port Vale. He made some two hundred appearances for Nantwich as a player, where he captained the team that won the FA Vase in 2006, as well as leading the Dabbers to promotion from the North West Counties League and UniBond League First Division.
Phil enjoyed promotion from the NPL as champions in his first season and reached the play-offs in 2018-19 in National League North before wining promotion to the National League via the play-offs in 2020. On 9 April 2021 it was announced that his contract had been extended to the end of the 2023-24 season.
Following another exciting season in 2023/23, which included a run to the semi-final of the FA Trophy, a respectable National League campaign, and a Cheshire Senior Cup final appearance, Phil and his assistant Neil Sorvel extended their deals with the club until the end of 24/25 season.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Miles Welch-Hayes is the standout name who's represented both clubs. Altrincham fans will definitely remember the commanding right-wing back after he plyed his trade at the J Davidson Stadium last season.
He was on loan at the Robins from Harrogate Town in the last campaign and played seventeen times in Manchester before departing for SPFL side Livingston this season.
Born in Oxford, Miles came through the ranks at Oxford United before joining City on loan from the U's in 2017. He will be fondly remembered in OX3 for playing his part in the FA Cup giant-killing of Colchester United in the 17/18 season.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
Stay tuned to our official Twitter page for all the build-up, regular updates and post-match action.
TNT SPORTS - CITY ON THE TELLY!
This is one of City's televised games in the National League! Tune into TNT Sports 3 for kick-off at 5:30 or just before to soak in all of the build up from Matt Smith, Aaron McClean and Scott Doe.
AUDIO/RADIO COMMENTARY:
Can't make it to the match? BBC Radio Oxford will be providing full commentary of our opening match online and on the Radio!
Click HERE to head to the BBC's non-league commentary page where you'll be able to tune in at around 17:15. Or simply tune into BBC Radio Oxford on BBC Sounds.
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