City stroll through in FA Cup.

Oxford City 6

Pollock 9', 53'

Ashby 16

Francillette 48

Bateman 69

Brown 90+1

Enfield Town 1

Youngs 33'

City head into the final qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup with a convincing 6-1 victory against Enfield Town. 

The Towners were up for clash, and held City to just the one goal advantage at the break, but a clinical City side in the second 45 ensured the Hoops a place in the next round. 

Both sides showed intent going forward in the opening stages, with the most threatening on the field as the game got underway being Francillette, who had a couple of headed chances from corner deliveries, the first of which was glanced wide, and the second which looped onto the roof of the net. 

It was the man to take those corners who opened the scoring, with City taking the lead just 9 minutes into the clash. It was a beautiful ball over the top of the defence which found the attacking Pollock, who guided the ball into the back of the net from close range to take the lead. 

A skipper’s goal made it 2-0 shortly after, following a quick move forward from the Hoops which saw Ashby strike from just outside the area, leaving the keeper no chance with an effort that hit low into the net in the 16th minute. 

As the clash unfolded, both teams looked likely to get the next goal, and McEachran was probably wondering how he hadn’t got that goal on 28 minutes, as Marsh pulled back to him, but he lifted his strike over the bar. 

It was then the Towners who had eyes for goal, and, following a top diving save from Maxted, they were able to claw one back in the subsequent play. It was a header from Sam Youngs which directed towards the back post, clipping the frame of the goal to cross the line, halving their deficit on 33 minutes. 

City certainly had their chances to restore their two goal advantage as the half came to a close, firstly as Marsh stood over a 38th minute penalty, but Dylan Thompson guessed the right way in Enfield’s net to deny the forward a deserved goal. 

Then, it was Ashby on the stroke of half time who lined up for his second of the afternoon, but, on this occasion, his long-range effort was met by Thompson, who did well to get down to his right, saving a strike which seemed destined for the bottom corner, thus sending his side in at the break within touching distance of a leveller. 

Half-time: Oxford City 2-1 Enfield Town

City got the second half underway in flying colours, with Francillette adding to his account just three minutes in. It was Ashby’s corner which created the chance, with Francillette rising highest at the back post in a third for the Hoops. 

Pollock got his second of the afternoon shortly after, after a strong move forward from City on 53 minutes saw the forward tap home from the goalmouth. 

The Hoops continued to push on for another, and largely limited the visitors to chances, with a free-kick on 66 minutes a strong opportunity to reignite hope for the Towners, but their effort rose high over the bar. 

Now, we always talk about the impact from the bench, especially after Potter’s late equaliser last week. Enter Briar Bateman. Seconds after entering the field of play, he netted City’s fifth, with a charging run down the left hand side, followed by a calm effort slotted through the legs of Thompson, the definition of instant impact. 

As the game approached 90 minutes, City attempted to add to the scoreline, and, just when it looked like the scoring was done, Brown became the second substitute to net as, in the first minute of injury time, he charged forward and slotted home in City’s sixth. 

Job well done for the Hoops, as they head into the fourth, and final, qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup. 

City XI: Maxted, Bloom, Ashby ©, Francillette, Johnson (Carroll 46’), Pollock (Brown 68’), Tetek (Kauan 75’), Marsh (Potter 75’), McEachran, Smith (Bateman 68’), Nelson. 

Subs Unused: Humphries, Njogu.