Match Preview | Oxford City v AFC Fylde
Hoops look to bounce back against title hopefuls.
Oxford City look to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the new year against Macclesfield. The Hoops welcome title contenders AFC Fylde to The MGroup Stadium in the Enterprise National League North on Saturday.
City kicked off 2026 with a dramatic 2-1 win over Buxton as Darnell Johnson's last-gasp header earned City all the points. The visitors have also begun the year in emphatic fashion. The Coasters are two wins from two games after dispatching both, Bedford and Scarborough.
The Hoops travelled up north to take on Fylde for the first game of the season. City were the better side but 13 minutes of madness let the home side back in and City left with nothing.
The last time Fylde visited The MGroup Stadium City won 3-0. Josh Parker opened the scoring, converting from the spot before Olly Sanderson's double sealed the points in an entertaining win.
Oxford City Manager Ross Jenkins said: "It’s good to be back at home today and to face another really good test against a strong Fylde team looking to bounce back into the National League at the first time of asking.
"That’s never easy and brings its own type of pressure but they have coped with that all season and it’s up to us to put a dent in their hopes this afternoon."
FIXTURE DETAILS
Oxford City v AFC Fylde
The MGroup Stadium – Saturday 24th January – 3:00pm
Enterprise National League North
Referee: Samuel Bragg Assistant Referees: Shaun Barry & Richard Cutts Fourth Official: Jeffrey Aldous
FORM
OXFORD CITY - D L D W L
The Hoops are coming off the back of a tough defeat away to Macclesfield. City couldn't add another victory to their winning start of 2026.
It was a difficult end to 2025 as The Hoops only managed two points from their final three games. Draws to Spennymoor and Peterborough Sports sandwiched a difficult Boxing Day loss at home to Merthyr.
The only win for City in the last five was the 2-1 win over Buxton as Ewan Clark opened the scoring before Darnell Jonhson's dramatic late winner earned City all three points.
AFC FYLDE - L W D W W
AFC Fylde are flying. They are one of the in-form teams in the league. With three wins in the last four games, The Coasters sit second in the standings.
The wins have come against Scarborough (2-1), Bedford (0-2) and Chorley (1-0). The Coasters have won six of their last eight games and lost once and drawn once.
Star man, Danny Ormerod has eight goals in his last eight games, the best run of any player in the league, contributing to Fylde's impressive goal record of 57 scored in their 26 league games.
ONE TO WATCH - Danny Ormerod
Ormerod is one of the leading scorers in the league this year with 17 goals.
He broke into the first team at Fylde in the 2023/24 season after an impressive stint in the youth teams. He scored seven goals and added seven assists in 26 National League Appearance.
Ormerod tends to play through the middle but has the ability and pace to drift out wide and cause defences real issues from within the channels. His work-rate is often highly commended and he will be a handful for City on the weekend.
You may recognise the name Ormerod, Danny's father Brett, made over 350 appearances in the Football League and 250 for Blackpool. Brett Ormerod joined Fylde as an caretaker manager and now works as the assistant hitman at Bolton Wanderers.
THE MANAGER - Craig Mahon
Many of you will remember the name Craig Mahon as it's not the first time we have written about him. He was recently appointed as the Manager of AFC Fylde, having departed his role as interim manager at Curzon Ashton.
Mahon oversaw an incredibly successful period at Curzon Ashton, leading them to back-to-back record points scoring seasons, unfortunately missing out on the play-offs last season by goal difference.
Mahon began his playing career as a youngster with Wigan Athletic. He moved into the football pyramid, beginning with a short spell with Vauxhall Motors before racking up over 200 appearances for Chester.
In total, the Irishman accumulated over 400 career appearances, some of which came with his current side, Fylde during the 2013 season.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
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There's also LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.
