City go top with Merthyr victory.

Oxford City 3

Tyrone Marsh 18'

Canice Carroll 77'

Ludwig Francillette 83'

Merthyr Town 0

Oxford City go top of the Enterprise National League North, beating Merthyr Town 3-0 at the MGroup Stadium.

It was Marsh who struck City to a half-time lead, with second-half goals from Carroll and Francillette sealing the victory for the Hoops. 

A fairly even start to the clash unfolded, with both teams starting brightly in attack, but it was the Hoops with the better of the opening chances. Indeed, on seven minutes, Pollock picked up the ball midway into the Merthyr half, finding Marsh on his left, who forced Jaimie Cogman into a fine save in the Martyrs’ net.

It was then Francillette that missed by the finest of margins, with a back-post header glanced wide on 15 minutes, an effort that, for much of the ground, looked to have gone in. 

Both sides continued to look threatening going forward, but City were the more clinical side, with Marsh opening the scoring on 18 minutes. A scramble in the goalmouth saw Merthyr struggle to clear, with Marsh connecting well with an effort, striking into the back of the net to take the lead. 

Marsh then went close to his second on 24 minutes, as Potter delivered low to the back post, but the ball was just out of reach of the stretching number 9. Then, it was Brown who couldn’t believe he hadn’t scored, as he hit a delivery first time at the far post, but Cogman reacted excellently to deny. 

Throughout this spell, whilst it was City with the better of the chances, the visitors looked lively, testing Maxted on 33 minutes with edge-of-the-area efforts, but City’s shotstopper was there to deny. 

The closest the visitors came to their equaliser before the half was courtesy of a free-kick, struck from a wide angle, which fell just over the bar, skimming the roof of the net on its descent. Even closer then went Marsh, leaving the woodwork shaking with an effort from range in the 42nd minute. 

As the half drew to a close, it was Merthyr who looked the more likely to add to the scoreline before the break, but the City defence stood strong, seeing them in at the half with the goal advantage. 

Half-time: Oxford City 1-0 Merthyr Town. 

City came out for the second half strong, rooting much of the early play in the Merthyr half. That being said, the visitors went closer to scoring in the early stages, with a ball over the top almost being tapped home on 53 minutes, but Nelson recovered incredibly to clear from the line, keeping his side ahead. 

A tight affair continued, with Pollock netting directly from a corner on 64 minutes, but being denied a deserved goal by a foul in the buildup. 

Chance after chance then came in from the Hoops, and they did double their advantage, with Carroll getting his name on the scoresheet. It really was an incredible effort from the defender, who curled an effort in from the edge of the area on 77 minutes in City’s second.

That wasn’t game over, however, as Merthyr continued to create their chances, with a huge chance shortly after City’s second seeing the visitors fire an unmarked effort over the bar. In that, a third for City ensured a more comfortable finish to the clash. That came as Tetek delivered, picking out Francillette at the back post, and it was never in doubt from the defender, who headed home on 83 minutes to sink the Martyrs. 

Three goals, a clean sheet, and City move into the top spot. What’s not to love?

City XI: Maxted, Humphries, Ashby ©, Francillette, Pollock (Forestieri 84’), Marsh (Westendorf 84’), Brown (McEachran 88’), Potter (Tetek 78’), Carroll, Bateman, Nelson. 

Subs unused: Bloom, Smith, De Silva.