Match Preview | Andover New Street v Oxford City
City Enter the League Cup.
Cup action awaits the Hoops, as the First Round of the League Cup sees City travel to take on Andover New Street.
For City, this comes off the back of two successive victories, with a 5-0 win against Fleet Town last time out, seeing the Hoops head into the clash in high spirits. Andover, however, head into the tie off the back of their Women’s FA Cup exit last time out, with a 3-0 loss to Maidenhead in the First Round.
Now, a chance for both sides to bounce back from Women’s FA Cup exits, as League Cup action gets underway. Last season, a tough draw in the Second Round of the League Cup saw top-of-the-table Wycombe Wanderers knock the Hoops out, with Andover progressing to the Third Round, but losing out away from home against Larkspur Rovers.
Now, a fresh start in the competition, as both teams look to string together a strong cup run and take the first step towards securing silverware as they battle it out for a place in the Second Round.
MATCH DETAILS
Andover New Street vs Oxford City
Sunday 1st November | Southern Region Women's Football League Cup | 2pm
FORM
ANDOVER NEW STREET - W L W W L
Andover got off to a strong start to the season, winning their opening four clashes across all competitions, scoring a total of 20 goals across those four. That started as they got off to a flying start on day one, netting 11 against Bournemouth Manor upon their entry to the Women’s FA Cup.
Amidst numerous cup duties, with five of their eight games so far this campaign being in the Women’s FA Cup, Andover, playing in the SRWFL Division One South, have only engaged in three league ties. In that, two wins and one loss sees them sit on six points, earning them a current 8th-placed position.
However, only Bognor Regis Town, who sit in second, have earned more points from the same number of clashes as Andover, with those who sit higher in the table having played a greater number of games. In that, and at such an early stage in the season, the table doesn’t truly reflect the side’s quality, with the Hoops in for a tough battle come Sunday afternoon.
OXFORD CITY - W D L W W
The Hoops head into the clash having completed the league double over Fleet Town last time out, registering successive wins for the first time this season with a 5-0 victory in OX3.
The clean sheet in that clash means that the Hoops’ defence still boast the best defensive record in the league, with Flood only beaten on two occasions in league action. Indeed, across all competitions, four clean sheets out of a possible seven is certainly an impressive feat in the City net.
Moreover, Reese Ayres netting her first (and then second) of the season reinforces that City’s goalscoring threat comes from all areas of the field, with the Hoops now boasting 11 different goalscorers from their opening seven games. With 25 goals scored in seven clashes, an impressive stat, City will need to keep up such form at both ends of the pitch, as they hope for a strong cup run to complement their league campaign.
ONE TO WATCH - IZZY HAWKINS
Hawkins joined the club at eight years old, progressing through the youth teams, impressing enough to cement herself as a regular in the starting XI this season, at just 16.
Praised for her work rate, consistency, and attitude, the club appointed her vice captain, alongside captain Keira Smith, for the 2026/27 season, and she has certainly proved her influence in Andover’s opening fixtures.
Indeed, she has started every game this campaign, boasting league goals against AFC Portchester Reserves and Wimborne Town, as well as Women’s FA Cup goals against Sholing and Dursley Town. A key player in the Andover side, she will be one to watch out for, as she looks to add to her goalscoring resume on Sunday afternoon.
THE MANAGERS - NIKKI BARNES and NIC TURPIN
In May, Andover announced the new co-management of Nikki Barnes and Nic Turpin. Barnes, who has been with the club since their 2019 reform, played a crucial role in their back-to-back promotions, which earned them a position in the SRWFL Division One South for the 2025/26 season. An established leader at the club, she also enjoyed captaincy during that stint, making her a clear candidate to step into the managerial role.
A known coach at the club, Turpin joined Barnes after coaching much of the current first-team at youth level, seeing them progress from under-10s through to senior football. Boasting league wins and back-to-back county cups during his time in the youth set-up, his success in the game was a driving factor in his appointment in the dugout.
The pair got off to a flying start to the season, guiding their side through four rounds of the Women’s FA Cup, before they lost out to Maidenhead. They now look to bounce back from that loss, as the start of a new cup run begins.
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