Match Preview | Warrington Town v Oxford City
Hoops return to action at Warrington.
Oxford City are looking to continue the momentum from the performance away to top of the table Scunthorpe as they travel back up North for a clash with Warrington Town in the Vanarama National League North.
The Hoops will be looking to close the gap to the sides sat just above the bottom four and the performance from two weeks ago proves that there is more than enough quality to charge up the table.
The Yellows are unbeaten in their last five league games and have scored in every game this season.
Like City they have also turned to a familiar face in Paul Carden as they look to improve on their early season form, and it appears Carden has got them playing again.
Any away trip in this league is challenging and the weekend’s venture to Warrington will be no different.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Warrington Town v Oxford City
Cal.Delivery Stadium – Saturday 19th October – 15:00
Vanarama National League North
Referee: Jake Alsopp Assistants: Jack Lambert & Alex Beeley | Fourth Official: John Martin
Form
OXFORD CITY - D L W L D
With five points from their last five games and a late-late equaliser away at Scunthorpe, the Hoops should be confident coming into this game.
New boss Ross Jenkins given a full two weeks with the squad to prepare for the away trip can only be good news.
The five away trips throughout this season have only brought two points for City, but Warrington haven’t kept a clean sheet or won at home in the previous four times of asking.
With City still trying to drag themselves from the relegation zone and march their way up the table, the full three points would go a long way to kicking starting the season.
WARRINGTON TOWN - D D D D W
The last time Warrington lost a league game was in August. They’re unbeaten in the last five and they have scored in every game this season.
Interestingly, the 2-1 win over against 10-man Radcliffe last time out was only the second time they scored more than one goal.
Prior to the Radcliffe encounter, Warrington had played four consecutive 1-1 draws and were on a six-game winless run, with losses to both Needham Market and Farsley at home.
Like Oxford, the Yellows have turned to a familiar face in the management department.
Paul Carden was appointed first team manager before their clash with Spennymoor a month ago
ONE TO WATCH - Matty McDonald
Having scored three goals already this season, the young midfield is the catalyst for the Yellows and someone who City will need to keep an eye on during Saturday’s game.
McDonald was brought to the club by Carden during his first stint as boss and played an important role in the play-off winning side back in 2022/23.
The 21-year-old scored five goals from 25 league games last season but was hampered by injuries meaning he didn’t start a game until January.
Playing behind the striker, McDonald is a threat and he has the capabilities to hurt sides with his passing or his shooting.
THE MANAGER - Paul Carden
Carden was the man in charge at Warrington from 2016 to 2021 taking the Yellows to play-off glory in the Northern Premier League in 2019. The following two seasons were knocked off due to COVID and he subsequently moved to AFC Telford United.
The 41-year-old’s second tenure at the club has had a successful start. The Yellows have won one and drawn one under his new management, albeit, both oppositions were reduced to a man fewer.
Carden oversaw Warrington for 222 games during his first stint, winning 50% of those games, he also has experience in the National League having managed Southport and Tranmere Rovers.
He also enjoyed a long playing career in the football league, playing for the likes of Rochdale, Cambridge United, Peterborough and Chester.
He re-joins Warrington after leaving Nantwich Town.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
As per usual, we will be following the game via our Social Channels, including our new WhatsApp Channel where you can read minute-by-minute action as the LIVE event occurs! You can sign up for free
HERE.
