City Seal Back-to-Back Wins for First Time in National League

Ebbsfleet United 0

Oxford City 4

Kpekawa 5'

McEachran 13'

Sanderson 49'

McQueen 52'

Oxford City picked up back-to-back wins for the first time in the National League with a comprehensive 4-0 win against Ebbsfleet United.

It was a match between the two promoted sides from the National League South last season, and a direct replay of the match that saw Ebbsfleet United crowned Champions last season, but City got their revenge for that defeat with a dominant display at the Kuflink Stadium.

It was a dream debut for both Cole Kpekawa and Alex McQueen who scored the first and last goals, while Zac McEachran added a second for the Hoops in the first half, before Olly Sanderson made it three early in the second half.

SELECTION

Ross Jenkins announced the two new signings ahead of kick-off, and both went straight into the starting XI. The pair replaced Josh Parker and Andre Burley in the lineup, with both away on international duty with Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts and Nevis respectively.

First-Half

Last week’s win against Woking was set-up by a quick start for the Hoops, and they were in the same mood again at the Kuflink Stadium on Saturday.

The game was just five minutes old when Chris Solley’s slip allowed Olly Sanderson to bare down on goal, and force Mark Cousins into an early save.

But with the resulting corner, Latrell Humphrey-Ewers’ ball saw Kpekawa lose his defender and was unmarked to steer a header into the bottom corner to give his side a dream start.

The dream start continued as one became two inside the opening quarter-hour. Another burst forward saw McEachran able to get a shot away, which saw Cousins make the save, however he was only able to push up and behind, with the ball looping into the corner of the net to double the lead.

Ebbsfleet did respond by putting pressure on the Hoops to find a way back into the match, and Billy Clifford came closest just five minutes later as he couldn’t guide Fanimo’s cross home.

But Clifford’s match would last half an hour as, already on a booking, he handled a ball forward from City, with referee Reubyn Ricardo brandishing a second yellow card for the midfielder.

The Hoops quickly regained control of the match, and perhaps should have had the game out of sight in the first half when Zac McEachran squared to Olly Sanderson unmarked, but his effort goalwards was kept out by Cousins.

Half-Time: Ebbsfleet United 0-2 Oxford City

Second-half

Heading into the second period, and against 10-men, the Hoops were looking at getting the game beyond doubt, and exactly this they did as they repeated their quick start to the first half.

Within five minutes of the restart, City got their third as Renny Smith burst forwards and forced a good save from Cousins, but the rebound fell to Sanderson with his back to goal, and he turned and fired into the bottom corner.

Just three minutes later, and a fourth followed for the Hoops, as a long ball forward to McQueen saw the debutant expertly take the ball down on the edge of the box, before firing into the bottom corner to all but seal the result for the Hoops.

City kept their foot on the gas, and could have had a fifth shortly after, but McQueen’s shot just cleared the bar from inside the box.

With eyes on another important game on Tuesday night away at York City, the Hoops understandably took their foot off the gas for the remaining half-hour, and used the opportunity to re-introduce Reece Fleet and Nya Kirby to action following their injury layoffs.

The comprehensive win saw City out of the relegation zone of the National League, but have more big games coming up in the next week with a trip to York, before returning to the RAW Charging Stadium next weekend to face Kidderminster Harriers, a 3pm kick-off.

Match Details

Attendance: 1,362

Ebbsfleet United Starting XI: 

Cousins, Wright (O'Neil 55'), Olagunju, Tanner (Edser 54'), Poleon, Cundle, Clifford, Fanimo (McQueen 46'), Solly, Samuel, Kenlock

Subs not used: Domi, Odokonyero

Oxford City XI: 

Bycroft, Coyle, Sanderson (Kirby 71'), McEachran (Fleet 71'), McQueen (Williams-Bushell 64'), Roberts, Smith, Carroll, Humphrey-Ewers, Moore, Kpekawa.

Subs not used: Ofosu, Miccio.