Match Preview: Oxford City vs Taunton Town
Oxford City return home in Vanarama National League South as Taunton Town travel to the RAW Charging Stadium (KO 19:45).
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
After putting an end to Havant & Waterlooville's unbeaten run at the weekend, Oxford City return home as they face VNLS newbies Taunton Town at the RAW Charging Stadium.
The Hoops extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games after defeating the Hawks, with the win taking City up to 12th in the league.
On the other hand, Taunton haven't disgraced themselves after winning promotion from step 3. Despite sitting in 18th the Peacocks have secured big wins over Dartford and Chippenham in VNLS. They secured an impressive draw with Worthing on their last outing on Saturday but also knocked NL side Yeovil Town out of the FA Cup.
FORM:
OXFORD CITY
Form: *DDDWW
*All competitions
After a sticky spell at the beginning of September, City have bounced back with a string of eight games unbeaten.
Ross Jenkins' side have progressed through to the Emirates FA Cup First Round with wins against Salisbury, Plymouth Parkway and Hornchurch. Moreover, the Hoops have taken four points of the top two sides in National League South.
Saturday's win over Havant will have raised a few eyebrows after the Hawks' superb start, but now City will look to pick up the baton and turn their frequent draws into wins more often and climb up the table.
TAUNTON TOWN
Form: *DLDWD
*All competitions
Like City, Taunton have progressed to the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup (and in some style). Lloyd James' penalty secured a famous victory for the Peacocks in the 4th Qualifying Round over Somerset rivals Yeovil Town - a famous victory for Taunton.
In National League South, Taunton haven't been outclassed. A 5-0 defeat to runaway leaders Ebbsfleet set them back in early October but is no disgrace. Tuesday's visitors have recorded impressive wins against Dartford and Chippenham but the task for the team now will be to turn their draws into victories to stay above the relegation zone.
ONE TO WATCH: Dave Sims-Burgess
A pacy and direct striker, Dave joined the Peacocks in the summer of 2022 from Bath City. He is a product of the youth system at Filton College and after leaving there went on to play for Western League Chipping Sodbury Town for two years, helping them win promotion to the Western League Premier. He then moved up to the Southern League with Paulton Rovers for the 2017-18 campaign before joining Yate Town for 2018-19, a season in which he finished as the Bluebells’ top scorer as they won promotion to the Southern Premier. After moving back to Paulton for the following season when he scored 16 goals, he rejoined Yate in the summer of 2020. His goalscoring form for the Bluebells at the start of the 2021-22 campaign grabbed the notice of Bath City who signed him in November 2021.
THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS
Ross Jenkins was full of praise for Tuesday's opponents and has said that City will have to earn the right to get a result on the evening.
"They’re hard working, honest, and enthusiastic. They have bags of energy; strength and they’re very organised, they have a great blend down there.
They lost to Ebbsfleet but that could happen to anyone and in the games prior to that, they’ve been hard to beat and they stick together, so it’s going to be a tough game. We have to respect them, know their threats and we have to earn the right to win a game of football. It’s going to a tough one.
It’s going to be a real battle. I’m expecting it to be highly energetic, so we’ll have to earn the right to play but that won’t be a given so it’ll be a tough one for sure."
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