City’s third game of the Vanarama National League South saw in-form Concord Rangers make the trip to the RAW Charging Stadium as Ross Jenkins' side looked to secure back to back victories in National League South.
Ross Jenkins made a number of changes he handed full debuts to Lewis Miccio, Tom Harrison and Gerald Muchchetere.
In fact, it was a dream start for Muchchetere as he grabbed his first goal for the Hoops with only 38 seconds on the clock. The teenager pounced upon a loose ball on the edge of the box and slotted a half volley into the bottom left corner to give City a very early advantage.
Rangers’ attempt to get back into the game proved costly as a last-ditch tackle by Canice Carroll, along his own six-yard line, set the Hoops on the counterattack. A long ball up field found Zac McEachran who dribbled along the byline and cut it back for Klaidi Lolos to smash it home and double City’s lead.
The Hoops’ performance grew from strength to strength and with only twenty-six minutes on the clock they made it three and all but put the game to bed. Some great build-up play in the final third found Josh Ashby open on the right, who floated a ball into the box for Muchchetere to nod a header over Melvin Minter for his second of the game.
Reece Fleet almost made it four before the break with a long-ranged effort, but the head of a Rangers defender denied the captain from adding to the scoresheet.
Half-time: Oxford City 3 – 0 Concord Rangers
The second-half was a closer affair with minimal clear-cut chances at either end. Lolos created two attempts within a three-minute spell shortly after the re-start, but both were denied by the feet and hands of Minter.
Chris Search’s boys were limited to a number of long range efforts and half chances. James Blanchfield’s strike sailed wide of the far post and Danny Green’s close range effort were both blocked by a steadfast City defence.
In truth, City could be aggrieved that the scoreline wasn't bigger. Twenty minutes from time, Lewis Coyle was tripped in the box but despite the protests from the Hoops' players, the referee waved play on.
City started growing into the second half and in the 77th minute Lolos grabbed his second and Oxford’s fourth. McEachran played a wonderful threaded pass in between the lines, finding Lolos inside the area who slotted his shot into the bottom corner. Game over, if it wasn't already.
Tosan Pope thought he'd grabbed a consolation when a cross landed to his feet at the back post, yet his strike was pounced upon by Ben Dudzinski in his first real action of the game a superb stop to keep a clean sheet.
However, City were not finished yet! Reece Fleet saw the run of substitute Jean-Baptiste Fischer into the box and picked the frenchman out perfectly with a ball over the top of the Beach Boys' backline.
Fischer remained unmarked and with no sign of pressure from any Concord defender, calmly placed his effort into the bottom corner to top off a superb display and grab his first goal for Oxford City.
A rampant performance in front of goal and another clean sheet mea s City make it back-to-back wins and rise to ninth in the VNLS.
The squad now prepare for a tough test on the South Coast against Weymouth and a re-union with ex-manager David Oldfield.
Starting XI:
Dudzinski, Miccio (Burley, 75’), Ashby, Rowan, Coyle, Fleet ©, McEachran (Humphrey-Ewers, 88’), Lolos, Harrison, Carroll, Muchchetere (Fischer, 80’)
Unused Subs: Grantham, Williams-Bushell
Attendance:
260