Match Preview | Oxford City v Alfreton Town
Everything you need to know ahead of the Alfreton Town clash.
Oxford City welcome Alfreton Town to The MGroup Stadium for another Enterprise National League North fixture in the second leg of a home double-header for The Hoops.
City are still reeling from the events on Saturday when Radcliffe came to town. An unfortunate red card for Byron Wilson changed the game and Radcliffe ran away eventual 5-1 winners.
Alfreton Town are in equally poor form with four points in the last five games after falling to a languishing Hereford side, 2-0 away from home.
City have dropped into the relegation zone and Alfreton sit just above it, but only by a point.
Oxford City Manager Ross Jenkins said, after the Radcliffe game: "We have to stick together and we battled today but we will go again on Tuesday.
"It's important we don't dwell on it and we prepare correctly for Alfreton. I don't want the boys getting down because it's something that is out of our control.
"The support of the fans has been brilliant and the last two games have been difficult but the fans have amazing and we need them all behind us for the next game."
FIXTURE DETAILS
Oxford City v Alfreton Town
The MGroup Stadium – Tuesday 2nd September – 7:45pm
Enterprise National League North
Referee: Brandon Scaife Assistant Referees: Zak Demetriades & Shaun Barry Fourth Official: Thomas Green
FORM
OXFORD CITY - W D L L L
The first visitor to The MGroup Stadium this season was newly-promoted Macclesfield. Josh Parker bagged his first of the season as did Alfie Potter. The Silkmen clawed one goal back but couldn't find an equaliser and City were on the board.
The first midweek game for City saw the spoils split evenly with Kidderminster. Jack Bearne's first goal for The Hoops against his former club wasn't enough as Alex Penny's managed to snatch a point for The Harriers.
City hosted Spennymoor a week ago and after McEachran's equaliser, it looked as though The Hoops would go on to grab all three points. A late Glen Taylor free kick scarpered any hopes that City had and handed them their second defeat of the season.
Bank Holiday Monday saw City visit the Deva Stadium in Chester. An early Alfie Potter red card was swiftly followed by a Chester opening goal. On a positive note, Isaac Westendorf bagged his first for the club but ultimately, the 10-man Hoops fell to the promotion hopefuls.
The Hoops hosted Radcliffe on Saturday as they looked to get back to winning ways and for half an hour it did look that way. A George Burroughs screamer put the Hoops in a commanding position. A late first half equaliser and a Byron Wilson red card swung the game in the other direction as Radcliffe ran away 5-1 winners with the scoreline not a reflection of the quality of the two sides.
ALFRETON TOWN - L L D W L
It was a struggle to the start of the season for Alfreton. Their first home game was a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Darlington. A Will Hatfield second half brace and a Ben Hedley top corner strike sealed the game for the Quakers.
That was followed up by another home defeat to top of the table South Shields. Cedwyn Scott and Paul Blackett netted in stoppage time to bury The Reds for a second straight game and leave them stranded on one point from the first three games.
A 1-1 draw away to Macclesfield was a positive for The Reds with Adam Lund getting his first for the season and the third in total for Alfreton Town.
The first three points of the season came after a 2-0 win at home against Marine. Hunt and Anson put The Reds in front either side of half time.
Celebrations were short lived however as they travelled to a languishing Hereford side and lost 2-0 and Jack Leckie received a second yellow card to rub salt in the wound.
The Reds have scored 5 goals and let in 10 so far this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The points were shared when we travelled to Alfreton last season. Zac McEachran's early goal was cancelled out by a late George Cantrill goal after Jalen Jones was sent off minutes earlier.
ONE TO WATCH - Adam Lund
Lund, primarily a defender, is capable in any position across the backline and also in a holding role in midfield. He began his career at Barnsley graduating through the youth ranks from U18s to U23s before making the jump to senior football.
After leaving Barnsley he spent time at Goole AFC, in the Northern Counties East Football League, where he made 19 appearances, scoring three times, Pickering Town scoring once in fourteen appearances.
Lund settled down and became a mainstay at Staveley Miners Welfare in the NCEL Premier Division. His performances earned him a move to Alfreton Town in August 2020.
City fans will remember Lund for his incredible long throw, which enters the box from almost any position inside the opponent's half. It was his long throw that triggered a sequence of events, leading to the winner eventually being turned in by substitute Jake Day.
THE MANAGER - Billy Heath
Heath is the club's second longest-serving manager behind Nicky Law and certainly long the longest-serving currently in the division. He celebrated his 200th game in charge during an April 2023 fixture and marked his 300th match at the helm in February 2025.
Since arriving at the club, after taking over from Chris Moyses in 2018, he has guided the club to the National league North playoffs twice in 2022/23 and 2023/34, both times falling short against Kidderminster Harriers and Boston United, but also to two Derbyshire Senior Cups in 2018/19 and 2024/25.
His experience managing at all levels is evident. He began his career with a lengthy tenure at Bridlington Town (2000-2006). He eventually found himself at North Ferriby United where he secured two promotions and an FA Trophy win coming in 2014/15, despite playing in Step 6 at the time, beating Wrexham on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
He then moved to Halifax where he steered the side to a promotion via the National League North playoffs. From there he moved to Alfreton Town where he has remained ever since, enjoying his longest tenure as a manger in his career.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
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There's also LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.
