Match Preview | Radcliffe v Oxford City
Hoops look to bounce back against rejuvenated Borough.
The Hoops will aim to get back to winning ways, after the defeat to King’s Lynn at Court Place Farm in midweek, as they travel to Greater Manchester for a battle with Radcliffe in the Vanarama National League North.
Both sides started the season on the back foot but have picked up form in the recent weeks with Radcliffe coming off back-to-back victories against South Shields and Brackley.
All five sides at the bottom of the table are level on ten points and it’s a good opportunity for City to drag themselves clear of the relegation zone into a position more reflective of the football they’ve played over the recent weeks.
City will look to keep their goalscoring record alive, as they’ve managed to net in the previous seven league matches, while Radcliffe kept their first two clean sheets on the season during their victories over South Shields and Brackley.
Since Jenkins’ arrival, the Hoops’ away form has improved, unbeaten since his appointment, and with Radcliffe yet to claim all three points at home, City can be confident of travelling North and coming away the victors.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Radcliffe v Oxford City
Stainton Park – Saturday 26th October – 15:00
Vanarama National League North
Referee: Steven Hughes | Assistants: Craig Davenport & Michael Pattison | Fourth Official: Jamie Stevenson
Form
OXFORD CITY - W L D W L
The promising performance from Tuesday night’s game against King’s Lynn wasn’t enough for the Hoops, as a couple errors led to a 3-1 defeat at Court Place Farm.
There were positive signs however, and it was clear City had built on the previous two league results, away to Scunthorpe and Warrington where they had played some exceptional football.
Two wins from the previous five games seems an unfair reflection and while it would be easy to focus on the errors, Ross Jenkins was keen to point out that should City play in a similar manner, the result would surely come on Saturday.
Corie Andrews got his name on the scoresheet on Tuesday, for his second in three games and to take his season tally to four.
RADCLIFFE - D L L W W
Two weeks ago, Radcliffe were languishing at the bottom of the table with no wins to their name. Now they’re out of the relegation zone and looking to extend their winning streak to three.
Winless through the first 10 games of the season, Radcliffe beat play-off hopeful Brackley Town away from home and then travelled to South Shields on Tuesday where they won 1-0 with South Shields reduced to nine men.
The Boro are still yet to record a win at home and through their first five league games at the Neuven Stadium only picked up two points, with draws to Scarborough and Needham Market at the start of the season.
Back-to-back clean sheets and away wins for the Boro will give them confidence they can keep their winning run going.
ONE TO WATCH - Josh Hancock
Hancock has five goals in ten starts for the Boro this season, making him the 6th top scorer in the league.
His penalty during Tuesday’s clash with South Shields was enough for all three points for the Boro and it was his first league goal since his early strike against Southport at the start of September.
The 33-year-old averaged a goal every 2.6 games during his tenure at Altrincham with 80 goals in 214 matches, helping the Robins to the Northern Premier title in 2017/18.
The goalscoring midfielder began his career at Fylde before bouncing around a few clubs. He settled for 5 seasons at Altrincham, spent one brief season at Curzon Ashton and has found his scoring boots at Radcliffe.
THE MANAGER(S) - Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley
At the end of last season, Radcliffe appointed both Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley to replace Bobby Grant.
The pair have enjoyed success across a variety of clubs. They began their managerial careers at Ramsbottom United in 2009 achieving back-to-back promotions taking them into the Northern Premier League.
From there they moved to Salford City, where they made their name featuring on the Class of ’92 documentary. They were at Salford for three and a half years when they moved to Spennymoor Town.
Johnson appeared on screens once again after going viral for drinking a pint of Madri during a post-game interview for Radcliffe earlier in the year.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
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The game will also feature as a live commentary on BBC Radio Oxford via BBC Sounds or the BBC Sport Website.
