29th October 1999
City's D-Day
The day that Oxford City FC have been waiting for these last two weeks is almost upon us. After all the hype, speculation and media attention, the players can finally get down to what matters and play the game. A decent FA Cup run has seen us pitted against an old adversary in Wycombe Wanderers who are now in the Nationwide League Division Two. It is a mouth-watering tie that also sees City against a former player, Jermaine McSporran, who was sold to Wycombe a year ago for about £100,000.
Much has been made of the connection with McSporran, but as with any team, it is not all about one player and what he can or cannot do, Oxford City players know that although Jermaine is a huge threat, he is not the only dangerman that Wycombe have.
Last Minute Tactics
Training Thursday night was the last chance to prepare for this huge game that has captured the imagination locally and also nationally - click here to read The Daily Telegraph interview with Terry Sweeney. Locally the papers have been ringing up old and new players alike - click here to read what the present players had to say to the Oxford Mail, and click here to read about a couple of older heads - including the present manager Paul Lee when he was a player.
Large attendances
Wycombe's average home gates are currently 5,500 which is the attendance that is expected for Saturday's game, unfortunately, there might be a few "stay-aways" because it was felt by the Wycombe supporters that this game was an ideal opportunity to have a "cheap day" to encourage some supporters back. Remember - to the Wycombe supporters - this is not the glamour tie that it is to us
Confident or apprehensive?
There is a quiet confidence within the City camp that an upset could be on the cards, a draw would be a pleasing result, but the players are certainly not treating the game lightly or just as a "day out to enjoy" - where is the enjoyment in getting beaten? So expect a good, hard, commited performance, and I think a tight and close game can be counted on, and the longer the scores remain level, the better for City.
24th October 1999
Barton Battlers Triumph
Not so much a case of after the Lord Mayor's parade, but the usual bump down to earth that you are guaranteed whenever you travel to Barton Rovers. Many of the City players had never played at Barton before, but having played there myself about 6 times previously I knew exactly what to expect - sloping pitch, desperately poor playing surface, big, strong, physical players who work so hard for each other. And that is exactly what awaited us at 3.00pm. Defending up the slope in the first half we had to contend with a gale blowing in our faces and then pouring rain - lovely conditions!! Defensively we looked sound as everyone tried to knuckle down to defend out the half, keep the scores level and wait for the second half. However, whenever we cleared the ball away we couldn't get out of our half as the ball just kept getting lumped back at us. The inevitable happened when an awkward ball fell to a Barton forward and shooting on the turn from 8 yards out, gave Alan Foster no chance.
Half-time came and after a serious rollicking to all in the dressing room it was a completely "different" team that went out and played the second half. Straight from the kick-off the ball was knocked about, first and second balls/tackles were won all round the pitch and Barton were on the back foot - intense pressure finally paid off after a substitution and change of formation when Jason Davy hit a stunning shot from the edge of the box to fly past the keeper. Instead of being satisfied with a draw, City went for the kill, and soon the opposing manager made his three man substitution which was to prove decisive. With City pushing forward, a break caught the defense out and one sub's shot was parried by Foster only into the path of the other sub to slot home into an empty net, and then three minutes after, a carbon-copy goal killed off the game with the same pair combining to score Barton's third.
A disappointing end to a game in which had City played the first half the way they did in the second, it would have been so different.
17th October 1999
City reach FA Cup First Round Proper
Where to start? After an unbelievably hard-fought match against a strong Salisbury City side in which we won 2-1, the joy of reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup was doubled when live on Sky TV, we were drawn out of the hat to play away to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 20th October. It was the tie that the players all wanted, after Oxford United.
The match was very tough, but was made more uncomfortable by some wayward finishing. I honestly don't remember too much about the game, so you will have to rely on the Oxford Mail report in "What the papers say" to get details. I don't remember much because it was so fast and frantic for the whole 90 minutes - and I just had to concentrate fully on my job and not what was going on with the rest of the game - or 100 minutes if you add on the ten minutes extra that the ref did. We went ahead through Andy Smith in the first half hour and about three minutes after half-time, Stewart McCleary finished off a great move which started from our own box to put us 2-0 up. Ten minutes after that goal, Salisbury pulled one back with a header at the far post when the right-winger was given too much time and space to cross the ball. The rest of the game was spent in our half defending the onslaught which saw Salisbury push more and more men forward. But the City defence held out well, and the odd couple of times that they did get a chance, Alan Foster pulled off two quality saves to keep the win. Like I said earlier, we did have a couple of chances to make it safe, because with Salisbury pushing men forward, they left themselves stretched, but the chances that fell to Justin Lee and Shaun Wimble were unfortunately not finished off.
It was a very relieved City that came off at the end of an enthalling and exciting Cup tie. And what was more pleasing was the level of support that the game generated, let's hope more of the people that were there on Saturday can make it to league games.
13th October 1999
Basement Battle won....just!
Reading the programme before last night's game against Chertsey opened a few eyes in the dressing room as players realised that we are third from bottom, with only Thame and Chertsey below us. So the importance of getting a result was made even stronger. In all honesty, to an outside observer, they would have understood why the two teams were bottom of their league as the quality of passing, movement and work-rate on show was not at a good standard. Chertsey were very direct trying to hit long balls behind the fullbacks and City couldn't string more than two passes together it seemed. A couple of chances fell to City, the best being a rare move of quality passing from defence to Terry Morrisey to cross from the right only to see Dwaine Strong slice a gilt-edged chance wide with his header.
The second half was even more of a battle with City "content" to soak up pressure from the three-man forward line, the one chance that fell Chertsey's way was a one-on-one between Alan Foster and their substitute forward which saw Foster stand his ground and made an excellent block to keep the scores level. As the game drifted aimlessly towards a bore draw which would have been no good for either side, a corner was not cleared by Chertsey far enough and Jason Davy timed a well struck volley from the edge of the box goalwards and the slightest of touches from Andy Smith fooled the keeper enough to score through his legs. For the first time during a biting cold evening the home crowd had something to cheer about. With the goal came a settling of nerves and Chertsey didn't look like that would pull a goal back and a very relieved City left the field with a somewhat fortunate win. Three very valuable points though!
Man of the Match - Matty Hayward.
Top Scorer dispute...
As mentioned above, Jason's shot and goal had the slightest of deflections from Andy Smith, which not many people on the pitch, let alone off the pitch noticed. The discussion carried on into the changing room and the bar afterwards as to whose goal it actually was. From my view, I saw the touch Smithy had and it was deliberate and made a difference, but had I been Jason then I still would have claimed it......I have credited the goal to Jason, but Andy Smith is still top-goalscorer, not bad for our "holding midfielder"!
Hollywood beckons
Well actually Carlton television as it's now known - not Central any more! I understand that the cameras are going to be down at the ground on Thursday night whilst the first team and reserves are training.This is, of course, some interest before the FA Cup tie on Saturday against Salisbury City, which seems to happen to all clubs who have some success in this competition. The lads shouldn't be phased by this media coverage though, as the Oxford Channel cameras have been following the team for a couple of games. They were there at the weekend against Hastings, so check out Channel 6 tonight on the half hour and there might be some coverage from that match - otherwise watch Cartlon News on Friday night - 6.30pm? (Thinking about it, if the manager and Chairman are interviewed, will this have to go out after the watershed to avoid upsetting small children?!? - Ed)
Witney on the Prowl
I have noticed on the Witney Town web-site that they have put in a seven day approach for Terry Morrisey. As you will no doubt be aware, Terry is now back on the scene after having a "diversion" for the last year, but he looks back to his old self and is as fit as I have seen him. He has started and played well in our last two fixtures and will provide stiff opposition to Gary Smart for the right wing-back role - let's hope that he's not tempted by what Witney have to offer.
Updates to the site.
As you may have noticed I have been very busy making lots of changes, updates and improvements to the web-site. Gradually it is growing and there is more for people to read and look at. I am pleased with what is on the site, and the most recent changes I think enhance it - history, information, reserves pages, sponsorship opportunities, more bloomers and sayings explained, player profiles and events with the juniors which are forthcoming. I have lots more planned which is completely different to what is currently on the site and I have additions to existing pages (more player profiles to upload - Jason Davy, Tate Hulbert & Shaun Wimble to name but three) - please let me know you opinions of what I have done - Is there more you want that I haven't covered? How can I improve the site for you? Without feedback - I cannot change what I think is okay and you think is rubbish!
10th October 1999
City Conquer Hastings
In the FA Trophy first round battle from 1500 to 1655 Oxford City conquered Hastings Town 2-0 at home. Hastings arrived at Court Farm Place having only lost one league game this season and were clearly confident from the outset. The pitch at City is looking the best it has for many years but played very slowly having dried out over the last couple of days which made passing hardwork. In a very tight first half, chances for both teams were at a premium, the best falling to Hastings when a long throw to the near post area was not cleared, an infringement on keeper Alan Foster going unnoticed and the ball trickling towards an empty net crying out to be buried by a Hastings player, but Terry Morrisey - in his home debut for this season - cleared the danger.
After the break City scored a quality goal after a fine build up down the right-hand side by Morrisey, Terry Sweeney and Jason Davy - the latter crossing low to the near post for Shaun Wimble to sweep home with his right foot from 10 yards.
The goal settled the nerves of Cirty and the game was put out of Hasting's reach when opportunist play from Dwaine Strong enabled him to lob the keeper for City's second from 25 yards out on the left.
The game was only marred by many incredible refereeing decisions which baffled both sets of players and resulted in numerous bookings - about eight - of which probably only two were for fouls for which a free-kick would have been sufficient, the rest were all nonsense.
4th October 1999
Bring on Salisbury
City produced the goods to hold on and win against Backwell in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round to set up an intriguing and exciting tie against Salisbury City from the Doc Martens Premier Division after they themselves beat Maidenhead Utd. The first 40 minutes of the game won it for City when they stormed to a 3-0 lead with goals from Dwaine Strong, Andy Smith and Terry Sweeney after probably only creating 4 chances. Backwell were swept aside in this period by incisive passing, movement and closing down and it was only City relaxing that gave the home side a glimmer of hope when the scored a minute before half-time to go in 3-1 down. A goal gifted to Backwell after twenty minutes into the second half made for some desperate defending, until about 10 minutes to go, Justin Lee calmed the nerves to push the scoreline to 4-2 in which the game ended as a contest and City could relax and pass the ball around.
A pleasing result, but ever the perfectionists - the team were quite subdued because the performance was only up to a good standard for the first 40 minutes, after which, a better team would have punished us more harshly. As mentioned, this now sets up a home tie with Salisbury City on 16 October, which both sides will feel confident that they can progress to the first round proper and the prospect of a glamour tie with a pro club.
Reserves Cop-Out.
The reserves were held to a 2-2 draw at home on Saturday to Met Police.
1st October 1999
Junior Development Programme
The Oxford City FC Youth Development Programme has announced its plans for Soccer Courses for boys and girls between the ages of 6 & 12 years old in the October half-term. Check out what is happening by clicking here.
Reserves
The reserves play against Metropolitan Police tomorrow at Court Place Farm, so get down and support the team if you aren't coming to sunny Bristol.