MATCH PREVIEW | VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH PROMOTION FINAL | OXFORD CITY V ST ALBANS
Having overcome a tricky Worthing side in last weekend’s semi-final, Oxford City are now one game away from making history and being promoted into the fifth tier of English football for the first time in their 140+ year history.
Standing in City’s way on Sunday are an impressive St Albans City team, who have reached the final after narrow victories in both the eliminator (0-1 at Chelmsford) and the semi-final (1-1, 3-5 on penalties at Dartford).
LAST TIME OUT:
The two sides most recently met in early January, when goals from Lewis Coyle and Josh Parker either side of half-time were enough for the Hoops to secure all three points in a 2-1 win.
City opened the scoring moments before the interval when, after a one-two with Zac McEachran just inside the St Albans box, Lewis Coyle received the ball with just Dylan Berry to beat, before calmly dispatching a clever finish into the far corner.
No more than two minutes into the second period and it was McEachran at the heart of things for City once more, and after driving past his man, the Hoops No 10 played in Alfie Potter - who made no mistake in squaring the ball across the face of goal for Josh Parker to prod home into an open goal and double the hosts’ lead.
St Albans, however, continued their search for a goal and pulled one back after 71 minutes through Ryan Blackman, when the midfielder picked the pocket of Zac McEachran before finding the top right corner with a spectacular effort from the edge of the area.
Ross Jenkins’ men crucially held on for a big three points and the first of what would go on to become six wins throughout the months of January and February.
FORM:
OXFORD CITY
Form: W W D L W
Oxford City continued their formidable home form in last Sunday’s play-off semi-final victory at home to Worthing, making it six games now without defeat at the RAW Charging Stadium.
Despite two losses on the road in April, at Ebbsfleet and Bath City, the Hoops’ consistency and scoring prowess throughout the regular season saw them secure a third-place finish on the final day, only finishing higher than Worthing and Chelmsford on goal difference.
In last weekend’s momentous semi-final, City looked assured throughout the 90 minutes, defending well and scoring two decisive goals before half-time; Hoops boss Ross Jenkins will no doubt be hoping for more of the same from his players when they look to go all the way on Sunday.
ST ALBANS
Form: W L W W D*
*Won on pens
City’s play-off final opponents have found terrific form of late, and won four of their last five National League South fixtures - a run that saw the Saints secure their highest league finish in the sixth tier for 17 years.
St Albans’ magnificent late-season form saw David Noble’s side pick up three wins across April and a further four in March - his men really turning up when it mattered, at the business end of the VNLS campaign.
The Hertfordshire-based club now find themselves in the play-off final against all odds, after remarkable knock-out wins on the road at Chelmsford and Dartford - two teams that finished above St Albans in the regular season.
ONE TO WATCH: Shaun Jeffers
31-year-old forward Shaun Jeffers signed for St Albans in the summer of 2020, after spells across Non-League with Chelmsford, Brackley Town, Hampton and Richmond, Boreham Wood and Woking.
In his three seasons at the club, Jeffers has scored a sensational 64 league goals, making him St Albans’ all-time National League South top goalscorer.
The experienced attacker was the hero in St Albans’ eliminator fixture, scoring an extra-time winner to send his side through to the semi-finals - and with four goals in his last five games, City’s defence will undoubtedly be looking to nullify his goalscoring expertise on Sunday.
THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS:
“I think the main takeaway of the result against Worthing was we looked after our performance and we looked after what we were going after,” Jenkins said, admitting that he doesn’t pay too much attention to the recent form of an opponent. “It’s a one-off game, I think that form goes out the window, stats go out the window.”
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