City through in the Emirates FA Cup.



Dorchester Town 0

Oxford City 2

Francillette 69'

Marsh 82'



Oxford City progressed in the Emirates FA Cup as they beat Dorchester Town 2-0 on the road, with Francillette and Marsh amongst the goals.

The Magpies did well to frustrate the Hoops for much of the clash, but City continued to battle, and ultimately emerged as victors on a tough afternoon.

In one of two changes from the side that beat Radcliffe, Tyrae Njogu was given his full Oxford City debut, with De Silva the other addition to Jenkins’ starting XI.

In true Emirates FA Cup style, both teams came out eager for the battle, with chances at both ends in the opening stages. From the outset, Ryan Hall, Dorchester’s number one, demonstrated danger with his thumping goal-kick, with him finding Ethan Taylor on the edge of the area in just the 6th minute, but the forward placed his effort wide.

The hosts did continue to create chances going forward, but City looked the more likely to score throughout the first half, the biggest of the opening chances falling to Marsh on 11 minutes.

It was De Silva who found the forward in the centre of the box, and if there’s anyone you want to find in that position it’s Marsh, but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet quick enough, allowing Hall to adjust to make the block.

Maxted also had to be on his toes as, shortly after, Matty Burrows darted down the left wing for the hosts, cutting into the box and ensuring City’s number one was alert, which he proved with a reactive near-post save.

City continued to push forward, dominating much of the possession, and creating more chances than their competitors, but as the game approached, and then ticked over, the 30-minute mark, the hosts frustrated City by equalling every cross, corner, and breakthrough into the box.

The biggest of the chances came with the slightest of touches, as Bateman flicked goalward following a corner ball, but the Magpies’ defence threw bodies in front of the effort to deny City the opener on 29 minutes.

It was then an Ashby free-kick from just outside the box that provided City the chance to lead, but the central positioning of the set-piece proved tricky for the skipper, who couldn’t beat the Dorchester wall with his strike.

Nevertheless, the Hoops pushed on, and in almost a twist before the half a quick move forward for the visitors saw De Silva deliver from the right-hand-side, finding the rising Marsh.

He, however, glanced his header wide in the final clear-cut chance before the break, thus seeing the sides in on level footing.

Half-time: Dorchester Town 0-0 Oxford City

As the second half got underway, both sides looked dangerous on the counter-attack, firstly as the hosts charged forward with Burrows, but Francillette recovered well to put in a well-timed challenge. It was then City who countered, with the ball finding Bateman on the edge of the penalty area, but his effort was too close to Hall, who smothered the ball with a diving save.

The Hoops continued to push forward and, as with the first half, Dorchester continued to frustrate. It was Humphries who was the finest of margins away from breaking that deadlock on 59 minutes as his header, from a corner ball, was met by the stretching Hall, who got fingertips to the defender’s effort to tip onto the crossbar.

It seemed inevitable, but just 10 minutes later City did take the lead, courtesy of Francillette. He was the target of the corner delivery, with his first touch goalward saved.

That block, however, steered the ball straight back into the path of the defender, who made no mistake with his follow-up, firing high into the net to give his side a deserved advantage.

In true Marshy fashion, he was determined to get his name on the scoresheet, and did so in the 82nd minute, turning in a Smith cross from close range to secure the Hoops a hard-fought victory.

The hosts did fight back, and tried in the closing stages to pull themselves back into the fixture, most notably with a deflected effort which fell narrowly wide of Maxted’s left post, but the two second half goals proved enough to see the Hoops progress to the Third Qualifying Round.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

City XI: Maxted, Humphries, Ashby ©, Francillette, Johnson, Marsh (Kauan 83’), McEachran (Potter 62’), Njogu, Bateman (Brown 62’), De Silva (Smith 62’), Nelson.

Unused Subs: Bloom, Carroll, Daniel.