MATCH PREVIEW | OXFORD CITY VS CHELMSFORD CITY
Hoops start Isuzu FA Trophy campaign with Clarets clash.
The Hoops have the chance to get themselves back on track when they welcome National League South side Chelmsford City to the RAW Charging Stadium in the Third Round Proper of the FA Trophy.
The home side’s best campaign in the FA Trophy was in 2020/21 when they fell short to Notts County despite taking the lead in the Quarter-Final.
City’s opponents, Chelmsford, have already had a taste of what this year's FA Trophy has to offer.
The Clarets entered in the Second Round Proper when they travelled to Step 4 side Harborough Town, beating them 0-2.
Chelmsford are the team to beat when travelling: having just lost once away from home since October, and sit 1st in the table on away form.
After spending years together in the NLS, the two clubs are very well aquatinted despite the difference in division. This game is sure to be an interesting one. Furthemore, in the instance of a draw, the tie will be decided on the game via a penalty shootout.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Oxford City vs Chelmsford City
Vanarama National League
The RAW Charging Stadium Saturday 2nd December, 15:00
Match Sponsors: GET Support IT Services
Referee: Paul Johnson Assistants: Ryan Head & Marcus Carmichael Fourth Official: Richard Terry
RECENT FORM
Oxford City - W W L D L
The Hoops will be unhappy with how recent affairs have gone despite recently earning impressive back-to-back wins at the hands of Ebbsfleet and Woking.
Defeats against York and Maidenhead have dented City’s chances of being able to move higher up the table, and they currently sit in 22nd position in the National League.
There's been lots of high scoring contests in recent games, Olly Sanderson has found his feet in the National League and has netted three times in the previous five.
Ross Jenkins’ side will be hoping to progress to the next round which will bolster morale around the team. Moreover, with only five wins in the competition setting up a date with destiny at Wembley, this could be a unique chance for the Hoops to string together a cup run.
Chelmsford City - D W L L W
Like mentioned earlier, Chelmsford are ferocious on the road having gained 14 points from a possible 18.
The Clarets currently sit just outside of the play off mark in a respectable 8th position. Furthermore, they have play-off credentials under Manager Robbie Simpson. They were unlucky in the Play-Off eliminator last season after they were beaten at home by St Albans (who City beat in the final). However, if it wasn't for a Taunton Town victory on the final day, the Clarets would have leapfrogged the Hoops into 3rd.
Who knows what impact that would have had in the history books?
Having lost just twice in total since October, Chelmsford will have their tails high in what is set up to be an enthralling encounter.
Those two losses fell very recently to the Visitors, who were defeated both times on home turf in the National League South.
ONE TO WATCH - Charlie Ruff
The 24 year-old Attacking Midfielder is one of the Clarets top players, and is our ‘One To Watch’.
Ruff began life in the footballing scene as a youth at Hertford Town, who went onto play for a series of clubs before signing for the Clarets in July 2022.
He also played a significant role in one of his former clubs, Hornchurch, when they faced a FA Trophy final win v Hereford.
Coming on as a substitute and finding the back of the net, then setting the next up 20 minutes later helped seal the deal as they marched to a 3-1 victory.
The talisman had a short spell at Chelmsford before joining Havant & Waterlooville in November 2022, but rejoined the Clarets the season after.
Netted four times this season, and fifteen in the last, Charlie Ruff is the danger man to look out for who still has plenty of years left in his locker.
HAVE WE MET BEFORE?
Chelmsford are no stranger to City having faced twice last season in the National League South.
The Hoops have respectively got the better of tomorrow’s visitors as of late: coming out on top in eight of their previous fifteen.
The last time these two sides faced City were victorious on home turf when they strode to a 3-1 victory in the National League South.
The story tends to be goals galore when City face Chelmsford, with The Hoops finding the net ten times in the previous five.
This will be the first time that the two teams have faced each other outside the league, with all affairs being in the National League South.
THE MANAGER - Robbie Simpson
Starting out in Norwich City during his youth career in 1995, Simpson has had a fruitful career in the Football League, featuring for the likes of Cambridge United, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town and Exeter City.
He first signed for Cambridge City in 2022 after failing to break through to the first team of Norwich City, who went on to make 154 appearances and scored 42 goals over five seasons with the Lilywhites.
Robbie accelerated in his career and signed for Cambridge United in 2006 but suffered a knee injury soon after. He became a fan favourite for United who netted 15 in the second half of the 2006/07 season.
Fast forward to 2018 when Robbie signed a short term deal with MK Dons, in which he helped the Dons gain promotion to League One. Robbie was one of ten players who were released in 2019.
Simpson made a swift switch to the Clarets who he signed for in August 2019, before becoming the manager on a permanent basis in 2020 following the sacking of Rod Stringer.
HOW TO FOLLOW
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LIVE COMMENTARY ON BBC SOUNDS
This match will have LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds curtesy of BBC Radio Oxford. Simply tune in to BBC Radio Oxford on the BBC Sounds app, or head to the non-league commentary page HERE.
