Match Preview | Oxford City v Merthyr Town
City host the Martyrs.
Tuesday night at the MGroup sees the Hoops return to home turf after three back-to-back away days, as they welcome Merthyr Town to OX3.
This follows a Saturday afternoon trip to Merseyside, where the Hoops ended Marine’s seven-game winning streak with a 1-1 draw. That result, obtained in a tough combination of wind and rain, saw City extend their own unbeaten run to seven games on the bounce.
They now face Merthyr side who finished just outside the play-off places last season, following their Southern League Premier South title victory in the 2024/25 season.
Unlike City, the Martyrs head into the clash after losing out in their last tie, as they hosted a Morecambe side who ran out 3-1 victors, the latest result in a tricky start to the season for the side.
MATCH DETAILS
Oxford City vs Merthyr Town
Tuesday 27th October | Enterprise National League North | 7:45pm
FORM
OXFORD CITY - D W W W D
Oxford City head into the clash unbeaten in seven, their last loss coming back on September 8th as Telford took the points. Since then, in all competitions, the Hoops have won five and drawn two, their latest as they became the first team of Marine’s last eight to deny them a victory.
Back on home turf, the Hoops have picked up 8 out of a possible 15 points at the MGroup this season, losing only once as the home side, contributing to their current second-placed position in the NLN.
Currently, the Hoops are unbeaten in their last three in all competitions in OX3, and they will certainly be striving to make it four on Tuesday evening.
MERTHYR TOWN - L L D D L
Merthyr Town currently sit 18th in the division, which would suggest a struggling start to the season. However, at such an early stage in the season, the table remains tight, with just 5 points separating the Martyrs and the final play-off spot, showing that, with a change in form, a climb up the table is certainly on the cards.
Merthyr have, however, struggled on the road this season, winning just one of their six league clashes as the away side. Moreover, it was on the road that they bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup, losing out in the Second Qualifying Round as Truro ran out 2-0 victors.
They now take to Oxford looking for a turn in their current form, as they search for their first victory since September 8th.
ONE TO WATCH - COLE JARVIS
On October 9th, Cole Jarvis’ loan move from League Two’s Newport County to Penydarren Park was confirmed, but it was a welcome back, rather than an introduction, to the club for the forward. Indeed, Jarvis began his career within the Merthyr Town academy, making his first-team debut at 16, and going on to play a critical role in their promotion-winning campaign.
Before his move to Newport, he netted 17 goals in 82 appearances for the Martyrs, and boasts Enterprise National League North experience in the first half of the 2025/26 season, before his February move. He went on to make 11 EFL appearances that season, making his debut against Grimsby Town on February 7th, and later scoring his first goal for Newport on August 22nd, in a 5-3 loss to Bristol Rovers.
Now back at Penydarren Park, he has started every game since his return, even netting against Morecambe last time out, as he looks to return to form which made him such a popular figure at the club earlier in his career.
THE MANAGER - PAUL MICHAEL
Following his departure from Yate Town, Paul Michael took the reins at Merthyr ahead of the 2022/23 season, and has since enjoyed success as the club, most notably as he guided the Martyrs to promotion to the Enterprise National League North in 2025.
Last season, it was heartbreak for Michael, as his side lost out on a play-off-placed finish on the last day of the campaign, but he had done enough for the club to offer him a contract extension, which he signed in May, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2028.
Whilst his start to the season is yet to mimic the success of previous seasons, we know the table is tight, with the Welsh side looking for a change of fortunes against the Hoops, and Michael looking to prove he is still the right man to drive the Martyrs forward.
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