City Play Their Cards Right

Oxford City 3

McEachran 13'

Sanderson 29'

Parker 90'



Woking 2

Amond 60', 90+'

A lightning start helped Oxford City pick up an important 2-0 win against Woking at the RAW Charging Stadium.

The Hoops, who came into the game on the back of a two week break following their FA Cup exit, saw themselves fly into a 2-0 lead inside the opening half-hour through Zac McEachran and Olly Sanderson.

Padraig Amond twice pulled a goal back for his side in the second period, but Josh Parker’s goal on 90 minutes put the game beyond doubt for Ross Jenkins’ men.

SELECTION

There were three changes to the line-up that fell to defeat at Barnet a fortnight ago. Between the sticks, there was a full debut for keeper Jack Bycroft who replaced Marcin Brzozowski.

Out on field, Rafferty Pedder’s return to QPR saw Lewis Coyle come in for him, while Olly Sanderson was preferred to Claudio Ofosu.

First-Half

Despite a quiet opening ten minutes to the match, it burst into life on 13 minutes when the Hoops took the lead. Olly Sanderson closed down Will Jaaskelainen and forced a mistake from the Woking keeper, with the forward instrumental in passing to McEachran – who celebrated his 29^th birthday on Saturday – who then dinked around his defender before slotting into the net to give City the lead.

But the visitors thought they’d levelled almost immediately when Zac Bradshaw’s ball ended up with Rhys Browne to score, but the linesman’s flag was raised with Browne in an offside position.

On the half-hour though, City doubled their lead. Great work in midfield saw McEachran cut out a pass on the halfway line, allowing the Hoops to burst forward. He returned the favour for the opening goal as he played through Sanderson, who made no mistake in slotting home one-on-one with Jaaskelainen.

City looked most likely to add to their score later in the half, and a cross from the right saw Tafari Moore head just over the bar under pressure from his defender.

Half-Time: Oxford City 2-0 Woking

Second-half

Canice Carroll had to be at his best within five minutes of the restart when Amond burst into the box, the City defender with a fine sliding block to prevent Woking getting a goal back.

But City still looked dangerous and could have had a third goal when Mitchell Roberts’ cross found its way to Coyle who forced a fine save from Jaaskelainen down at the near post.

City were looking comfortable, and again the most likely to score the next goal, and again McEachran and Sanderson linked up with the former playing in the latter, who could only fire into the side netting on the angle.

But despite controlling the match, a nervy final 20 minutes was to follow, as a free-kick was headed on by Scott Cuthbert to Amond, who slotted under Jack Bycroft to halve the deficit.

The Hoops weathered a spell of pressure, and right on 90 minutes put the game all but beyond doubt. It was another moment for Jaaskelainen to forget, as he couldn’t deal with a long ball, he headed straight to Parker who had the simple task of tapping into the empty net to all but end the contest.

But the goalscoring wasn’t quite done, and the game would end with a one goal margin as Amond was unmarked at the far post to slot home. However, there was no chance of a potential equaliser with the full time whistle following straight from the restart.

Match Details

Attendance: 761

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Bycroft; Moore, Carroll, Burley, Roberts; Humphrey-Ewers, Smith; Coyle, McEachran, Parker; Sanderson (Williams-Bushell 89)

Subs not used: Miccio, Kirby, Brzozowski, Ofosu

Woking XI: 

Jaaskelainen; Moss, Cuthbert, Taylor, Casey; Ince, Bradshaw (Akinola 46); Browne (Pavey 56), Amond, Williams; Lewis (Grego-Cox 46)

Subs not used: Wakefield, Habergham