Match Preview | Newmarket Town v Oxford City
Hoops Enter Isuzu FA Trophy.
Oxford City are on the road once again, this time as they enter the Isuzu FA Trophy with a second-round tie against Newmarket Town.
Playing in the Isthmian League North Division, Newmarket have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, sitting in third, four points off the top spot with a game in hand.
Unlike City, who entered the competition in this round, Newmarket also have the momentum of a strong cup run behind them, entering in the First Qualifying Round, seeing off Haringey Borough, Gorleston, Leighton Town, and Faversham Town on their way to the second round, a record-breaking run for the Jockeys.
City have, however, had a taste of a tenacious cup run already this campaign, reaching the first round of the Emirates FA Cup with a series of enticing victories, with a performance to be proud of against Leicester City capping off their 2026/27 campaign.
For the Hoops, they will be determined to progress further than last campaign, with a dramatic afternoon at the MGroup seeing Isaac Westendorf on the scoresheet, but ultimately City bowing out at the first hurdle, as Peterborough Sports progressed with a 2-1 victory.
MATCH DETAILS
Newmarket Town vs Oxford City
Saturday 14th November | Izusu FA Trophy Second Round | 3:00pm
FORM
NEWMARKET TOWN - W W D W L
A strong home form for the Jockeys sees them currently boast a seven-game unbeaten home run in the league, their only loss in the division at the NYO Stadium being when they hosted Concord Rangers back on August 18th.
Moreover, they strung together an impressive 15-game unbeaten run across all competitions, which was only ended by an injury-time winner from AFC Sudbury last time out, a clash which ended in a 3-2 loss for Newmarket.
Their run in the Isuzu FA Trophy so far this season has certainly been impressive, scoring ten goals across their four clashes on their history-making run. They now face a side two tiers above, as they look to turn both their strong league form and the momentum from an admirable cup run into a place in the next round.
OXFORD CITY - D W L L D
City head into the clash following their draw with Darlington last time out, with Ellis Brown’s fourth of the season seeing him fire the Hoops ahead, but a Quakers side lifted under new management fought back to share the spoils. A difficult place to travel on a cold Tuesday night, a point on the road ensured the Hoops still sit top of the divisions’ away form table, an impressive feat for Jenkins’ side.
Third in the division, City sit just two points, with a game in hand, behind second-placed Hereford, and four points off the summit, with their only loss in their last five league games coming at the hands of current league leaders South Shields.
Indicative of their strong away form, City’s last loss on the road is now over 2 months ago, with a tricky evening against Telford their only loss as the travelling side this season. The Hoops will need to keep that form going on Saturday afternoon, as they look to get the momentum of another cup run behind them.
ONE TO WATCH - ELLIOT REEVES
Reeves made the move to Newmarket over the summer, departing from Welsh Premier League side Flint Town United, and made an instant impression, netting three in his first two appearances.
He has since become a regular on the scoresheet, his most recent contribution as he scored twice against Tilbury, his latter an injury-time leveller to keep his side’s unbeaten run alive.
He sits level on goals with teammate Josh Lee, both with 9 in all competitions, but Reeves has reached that tally in ten appearances, compared to Lee’s 17, indicative of his clinical nature. City will have to be wary of both goalscoring threats on Saturday afternoon, as they both look to cross the line into double figures.
THE MANAGER - MICHAEL SHINN
After an impressive month at the helm, long-standing Jockey's manager Michael Shinn picked up the honour of Isthmian League North Manager of the Month for October, his second of the calendar year.
First appointed Newmarket manager in 2018, Shinn took over after a nine-year reign from Kevin Grainger came to an end, and has certainly enjoyed success at the club, masterminding their promotion to the Isthmian League and developing a side that look to place themselves in contention for the title.
Looking ahead to the clash with the Hoops, Shinn highlighted his side’s goalscoring threat and their fearless nature on home turf, but can he keep their record-breaking run in the competition rolling on Saturday?
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