MATCH PREVIEW | OXFORD CITY VS MAIDENHEAD UNITED
City look to shoot down The Magpies in pivotal clash.
Maidenhead will make the short trip to The RAW Charging Stadium to face the Hoops this Saturday, as they look to maintain their good form.
They face a City side also performing well, having picked up 7 points from their last four, boosting survival hopes in the process.
Ross Jenkins’ side held out for a 2-2 draw last week, after Kidderminster battled back from 2-0 down. The visitors also drew last time out, as they were held 1-1 by 10-man York.
The Berkshire side have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks however, and City will have to put in an excellent performance if they want to take the three points.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Oxford City vs Maidenhead United
Vanarama National League
The RAW Charging Stadium Saturday 2nd December, 15:00
Match Sponsors: GET Support IT Services
Referee: Abigail Byrne Assistants: David Hutton & Christopher Reeson Fourth Official: Mitchell Cartwright
RECENT FORM
Oxford City - L W W L D
A mixed bag in the last five for City sees them still floating around the bottom four, with the Hoops still occupying the final relegation spot right now.
However, Ross Jenkins will surely highlight the positives from the sides back-to-back victories against Woking and the resounding win at Ebbsfleet, along with the important point collected last week.
Defeats against York and Barnet came either side of the victories, however they don’t seem to have impacted the side’s mentality, as they look to pick up a win that could see them rise above Saturday’s opponents.
They would also be guaranteed to overtake 20th place Woking with a win, as The Cards are not in action this weekend.
Maidenhead United - W W W D D
The Magpies have dragged themselves away from the bottom four in recent weeks with their longest unbeaten run of the season.
They won just two of their opening 17 games before this run, in which they defeated three top-half sides in the form of Eastleigh, Solihull Moors and Halifax, all by a margin of one goal.
They have since drawn their last two against sides in and around the relegation zone, recording consecutive 1-1 draws against Ebbsfleet and York City respectively.
Maidenhead finished just two points above the final relegation place last year, and Alan Devonshire’s side will surely be looking to capitalise on this good form at the weekend and keep this unbeaten run going, in order to avoid the drop once more.
ONE TO WATCH - Reece Smith
Despite being just 21 years old, Reece Smith is already of the Magpies most important players.
The midfielder worked his way through the youth ranks at Maidenhead, making his first team debut in 2021, and has impressed ever since.
He featured over 30 times in both the last two seasons, and has already scored six times this year making him Maidenhead’s top scorer as we approach the half way point in the season.
Three of those six came in this unbeaten run for Maidenhead, as he scored the match winning goals against Eastleigh and Solihull, along with an equaliser against Ebbsfleet.
He recently committed himself to Maidenhead for the future, signing a new contract in February.
He can play centrally or down either wing, and both his confidence and versatility will undoubtedly be a threat to City’s defence.
HAVE WE MET BEFORE?
The sides have already faced each other this year, making this City’s first time facing a side for the second time in the National League.
When they met in August, the teams played out a 0-0 draw, so both sets of supporters will be hoping for some more goals this weekend.
We also met in 2019 in the FA Trophy Round of 32, coming away from York Road victorious 2-1, after a brace from Kabongo Tshimanga.
Maidenhead however were victorious last time they visited Marsh Lane, collecting a 3-1 victory on their way to the National League South title in 2016/17.
THE MANAGER - Alan Devonshire
The second longest serving manager in the division, Devonshire has been at Maidenhead since 2015.
He took over the side after the 2014/15 season, where Maidenhead finished down in 18th place, and guided them to 7th in his first season, before promotion in his second. His side have played National League football ever since.
A famous name due to his West Ham performances in his playing days, Devonshire was a talented winger who featured over 400 times for the Hammers over 15 years. He won the FA Cup with the side in 1980, scoring against Leeds in the semi final.
He also featured 8 times for England, making competitive appearances in 1983 against Greece and Luxembourg.
He has taken on various managerial roles since retiring in 1992, after spending two years at Watford at the end of his career. He had a brief period in charge of the Brentford Women’s side, before taking charge of The Magpies for the first time in 1997.
He spent six years in the post, earning a historic promotion, before leaving at the end of the 2002/03 season after Chairman Roger Coombs stepped down.
He then spent eight years managing Hampton and Richmond, collecting two promotions as they reached the Conference South for the first time in their history.
A spell at Braintree followed, as Devonshire guided the club to top half finishes three years in a row.
He rejoined Maidenhead in 2015, winning the National League South title two years later, and has guided the club to safety each year.
HOW TO FOLLOW
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