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Oxford City vs Oldham Athletic

Vanarama National League

RAW Charging Stadium   Saturday 13th April   15:00

Referee: Sam Mulhall     Assistants: Jason Roberts & Grzegorz Kornasiewicz   Fourth Official: Samuel Read

RECENT FORM

Oxford City - L L L W L

As we already know, City's fate is already sealed, but that hasn't stopped any of the desire from the squad to pick up every point possible.

The form guide may not look great, but three of the defeats in the last five matches have come against Chesterfield, FC Halifax & Barnet. That's no disgrace to any part-time side.

The 1-0 win against Wealdstone showed what the team were capable of, despite being without a number of notable absentees.

Now the task will be to become 'spoilers'. If they can avenge the 4-0 defeat to Oldham in the reverse fixture between the two sides, the result would have a big impact on the play-off race.

Oldham Athletic - D D L L D

Oldham still have a chance at making the play-offs. However, if they are to make it to the end of season showdown, they need to turn around a dismal run of form.

Their past five matches only scratch the surface. When you delve deeper, the Latics have won just one match in their previous eleven matches (a 2-1 victory away at Eastleigh in February).

They've picked up solid points against other high-flyers such as Chesterfield, Bromley & Southend, but losses against Altrincham and Aldershot may cost them dear.

Nevertheless, they're still in the hunt. They must win their last three matches (Oxford City, FC Halifax & Wealdstone) to stand a chance of securing seventh spot.

But if they do and results go their way, they may just sneak into that final spot.

THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS

Read what Ross Jenkins had to say before Sunday's match by clicking HERE.

ONE TO WATCH - James Norwood

A striker that has been prolific at this level before and would feel perfectly at home in the EFL is James Norwood.

His track record speaks for itself, and the striker has three goals to his name for Oldham already this season, coming into this game as the Latics' joint top-goalscorer (alongside Brennan Dickenson).

Norwood was Oldham's marquee summer signing from League One side Barnsley in the summer. Earlier in his career he went on to become Forest Green Rover's all-time top goalscorer in the National League in his time at the New Lawn, form that secured him a move to Tranmere Rovers.

He went on to become a cult-hero at Prenton Park, scoring the winning goal at Wembley in the National League Play-Off Final against Boreham Wood.

His career continued in an upward trajectory as he went on to join Ipswich Town and then Barnsley (whilst both clubs were in League One).

City will have to be at their best to deny him on Saturday.



LAST TIME OUT

It was a tough afternoon for City when the two teams last met.

A 4-0 defeat against a rejuvenated Oldham team was a fair outcome, but the scoreline was perhaps a tad harsh on the Hoops.

Devarn Green and Brennan Dickenson gave the Latics the lead at the break. However, James Norwood and a second from Dickenson in injury time compounded City's woes in Greater Manchester.



THE MANAGER - Micky Mellon

The vastly experienced Mellon arrived at Boundary Park on a three-year contract, having achieved promotion on five occasions with three different clubs during a 15-year managerial career.

He led Fleetwood to the National League title in 2012 having taken them up to the fifth tier two seasons earlier. He then plotted Tranmere’s return to the EFL in 2018 - part of a back-to-back promotion which saw him guide them to League One.

Mellon’s playing career lasted 17 years, featuring two promotions and more than 500 senior appearances, most notably with Blackpool, Burnley and Tranmere.

He earned his first managerial role with the ambitious Fleetwood, taking them from the National League North to League Two, achieving success through the play-offs in 2009/10 and the National League title two seasons later.

He earned another promotion by leading Shrewsbury to League One, finishing the season with a run of eight wins from ten games, which was instrumental in helping them finish the campaign in second place on 89 points.

After securing their place in League One, Mellon took over at Tranmere, leading them back to the EFL in his first full campaign, before completing successive promotions with victory in the League Two play-offs.

He left the Wirral for his native Scotland, taking charge of Dundee United, before returning to Tranmere in 2021.

HOW TO FOLLOW

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LIVE ON NATIONAL LEAGUE TV

This game is available for streaming via National League TV - Click HERE to buy your match pass. (Remember to select Oxford City as your preferred team).