Match Preview | Oxford City v Worksop Town
City look to build on midweek win
Oxford City welcome Worksop Town to The MGroup Stadium for the fourth consecutive home game as The Hoops look to build on the first three points in over two months in the Enterprise National League North.
City ended the nine game unbeaten streak with a dominant 3-0 win over Hereford. An Ashby free kick after the visitors were reduced to 10 got The Hoops off and running, Tom Scott and Jack Bearne sealed the deal for Ross Jenkins' side.
Worksop come into this game off the back of a 5-1 defeat away to Darlington as The Tigers received their first red card of the season.
This is the first time the sides have met.
Oxford City Manager Ross Jenkins said: "It was a great win on Tuesday and we need to build on the momentum gained. It's important now that we don't take a step backwards.
"There's still plenty of games left in the season but it's nice to get over that hump."
FIXTURE DETAILS
Oxford City v Worksop Town
The MGroup Stadium – Saturday 8th November – 3:00pm
Enterprise National League North
Referee: Joe Moss Assistant Referees: Daniel Clenton & Daniel Ellis Fourth Official: Josh Osofa
FORM (League Only)
OXFORD CITY - L L D L W
City's 3-0 over Hereford was the first Hoops victory since the 5-0 dismantling of Alfreton Town. The Hoops are now just two points from safety.
Josh Ashby has picked up his third goal in as many games, Tom Scott is back in the goals for the first time since Chorley and Jack Bearne announces his return with a bang.
City kept their second clean sheet of the season on Tuesday and look to build on the momentum gained from the win.
WORKSOP - L D L W L
Worksop have scored in all of their last five games this season and kept only one clean sheet, which came in a 1-0 win over Scarborough.
They've only earned one other point in their last five which was a 2-2 draw with King's Lynn.
Defeats to Marine, Telford United and Darlington have seen The Tigers slip down to 16th in the table, four points above the relegation zone.
ONE TO WATCH - Liam Hughes
Hughes came through the ranks of Cambridge United and progressed to the first team, making 161 appearances for the U’s during his six years at the club.
The striker then moved north to Scottish side Inverness for half a season before moving to Barrow. After spells at non-league sides Guiseley, Billericay Town, Darlington, Gainsborough Trinity, Stratford Town, Bradford Park Avenue, and Frickley Athletic, Hughes moved to Derbyshire to play for Matlock Town, scoring 13 goals in 38 appearances.
Manager Craig Parry was a long-term admirer of Hughes, who joined Worksop in June 2022, and he started scoring goals straight away. The 32-year-old has now scored 88 goals in 127 games for the Tigers and has become a fan favourite for the Worksop faithful.
THE MANAGER - Craig Parry
Parry was a goalkeeper for Barnsley, Halifax Town, Bradford Park Avenue, Goole, Garforth Town and Pontefract Collieries before becoming manager of the latter. He guided the Colls to back-to-back promotions to the NPL South East (Step 4) and he came close to another promotion but lost to Brighouse Town in the final.
In his final season with Pontefract, they were fourth in the league before the season was cancelled due to COVID.
Parry became manager of the Tigers in May 2020, which meant his first season (2020/21), which was cut short due to COVID once again.
After a solid 8th-place finish and a Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup win in his first full season, Parry guided them during a record-breaking season when the Tigers won the NPL East.
In their first season in the NPL Premier Division, Parry took the Tigers to the playoff, where they lost to Macclesfield in the semi-final. However, they did win the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup. In the next season, Parry achieved the double with Worksop Town, gaining promotion through the playoffs and winning the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup final once again.
HOW TO FOLLOW
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There's also LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.
