Match Preview: Weymouth vs Oxford City

Listen Live

Match Preview: Weymouth vs Oxford City

August 26, 2022

Oxford City make one of the longest away trips of the season as Ross Jenkins' side travel to Weymouth in Vanarama National League South. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the game.

COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Countdown finished!

It'll be a reunion of some sorts as Oxford City travel to Weymouth to face David Oldfield's Terra's.

The ex-Oxford City manager left the Hoops in January to take the job at Weymouth and after Dan Matsuzaka and Harry Kyprianou followed in the summer, it makes for an interesting affair.

City will be looking to make it three wins in three after impressive wins over St Albans and Concord Rangers.

LAST TIME OUT:

The last time the two sides met was in the FA Cup in 2020 as City grabbed a late goal in a 3-2 win. Weymouth, then in the National League, were knocked out by City in the fourth qualifying round (setting up City's famous win over Northampton in the first round proper).

Harvey Bradbury and Josh Ashby goals saw City race into a 2-0 lead at the Bob Lucas Stadium before a Joe Oastler OG and Andy Robinson levelled the scores. However, City won the game at the death when Louis Hall steered home a cross from Nana Owusu.

FORM:

WEYMOUTH

Form: LLLL

After a disappointing season last year which resulted in relegation from the National League, it's been fair to say that David Oldfield's side have struggled to find their feat in National League South.

Defeats against Tonbridge, Ebbsfleet, Worthing and Chelmsford means the Terras are rooted to the bottom of the table.

However, with any team that have just been relegated from the National League, Weymouth are a threat. Tom Blair and Akheem Rose offer fire power up front and could be a catalyst in turning around the Terras' fortunes.

OXFORD CITY:

Form: LWW

After a disappointing opening day against Eastbourne, City's recent form has been impressive.

A 1-0 win away to St Albans and Saturday's 5-0 thrashing of Concord Rangers has put the Hoops back on track in National League South.

Klaidi Lolos grabbed another two goals on Saturday taking him to three goals so far this season. A feat that leaves him as the join top goalscorer in the division.

ONE TO WATCH: Bradley Ash

Keeping Bradley Ash could prove to be an astute piece of business from Weymouth. Already off the mark this season, the striker joined from Chippenham and will likely feature heavily on Saturday.

Ash scored 4 goals in 14 appearances in the curtailed 2020/21 season with the Bluebirds and has previously played in The National League for Boreham Wood. The striker began his career at Weston-Super-Mare and after starting the 2015/16 season with 14 goals in 14 league games he made the move to League One with Barnsley.

Ash, who has played for England Colleges as well as an England C select XI, spent the 2016/17 season back at Weston-super-Mare on loan, and netted an impressive 19 goals in 34 appearances.

WHAT THE GAFFER SAID:

Speaking ahead of the game, City boss Ross Jenkins spoke about coming up against old ally David Oldfield and utilising the whole squad over the busy Bank Holiday period.

“He’ll (Oldfield) know a little about us and we’ll know a little bit about him and I think it’ll be a difficult game. It will be a tactical game with a few mind games in there but what we do know is that we work hard and they work hard.

“We have to use our squad over the weekend, so if you’re starting Saturday or starting Monday, the bigger picture is the team.

“We need our players to get as many minutes as possible and when you have a very large squad it’s hard to give everyone the minutes they probably deserve and we want to reward our players with as many minutes as possible.