Match Preview | South Shields v Oxford City
City make the long trip to Tyneside.
Oxford City will be looking to get back to winning ways in their second league game for 2025 as they make the long journey up to South Shields’ 1st Cloud Arena.
The reverse fixture earlier in the season ended up in a 4-1 defeat for the Hoops, but City have come a long way since then and will look to continue their run of form after five wins from their last seven games in all competitions.
South Shields are an attacking side, scoring the joint most goals for any club in the league this season (40, tied with Scunthorpe), but they also concede at a similar rate (37 goals in 25 games).
The Hoops have managed to drag themselves up the league and will look to make a push even further up and the last couple months have proven that they have the quality to do so.
FIXTURE DETAILS
South Shields v Oxford City
1st Cloud Arena – Saturday 18th January – 3:00pm
Vanarama National League North
Referee: Lee Hible | Assitant Referees: Jonathan Gill & Paul Moseley | Fourth Official: Ryan Moore
FORM
OXFORD CITY - D W W L W
City began the new year with a defeat to Brackley Town but quickly got back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 win in the FA Trophy over Biggleswade Town.
However, their five-game unbeaten run to close out 2024 has put the Hoops in 4th place in the form table.
City’s away form has been hit-and-miss as of late with back-to-back defeats against Buxton and Chester followed by a good raw against Darlington and rounded off with a smash-and-grab victory over Rushall Olympic on Boxing Day.
City have scored in all their last five away games in the league and will certainly be looking to continue that run on the weekend.
SOUTH SHIELDS - W L W D L
South Shields’ home record is impressive this season. Seven wins in their 13 home fixtures with only four defeats will give the Mariners confidence that they can take all three points from Saturday.
No side in the National League North has scored more home goals that the Mariners this season, they’ve bagged 26 this season, equalled only by Buxton. The 7-0 thrashing of Rushall Olympic will always help that stat.
South Shields have three wins from their last five games at 1st Cloud Arena and only conceded four goals during those matches.
A win for the Mariners would propel them closer to the playoff places, a target for them no doubt.
ONE TO WATCH - Paul Blackett
Blackett is currently top scorer for the National League North with 14, two of which came against City when they met earlier in the year. Blackett also had a couple assists to go with his brace as the Mariners beat the Hoops 4-1.
The 26-year-old also scored 29 goals in his 23 games last season, his first season with South Shields, and picked up the Player of the Year award for his prolificacy in front of goal.
Blackett began his career at Whitby before moves to Gateshead, Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor. He’s a proven striker at this level and will prove to be a handful for the City backline this week
THE MANAGER - Elliot Dickman
It’s been a year since Dickman was appointed caretaker manager of South Shields and his first full season in charge has been a success so far.
Dickman began his coaching career at Sunderland’s Youth Academy where he spent eight years before moving to manage their U23 side
.
The 46-year-old then moved to manage Newcastle’s U23 side, before finding himself at South Shields.
His brother Jonjo Dickman made a Premier League appearance for Sunderland in the early 2000’s.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
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There's also LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website via BBC Radio Oxford.
