Match Preview | Buxton v Oxford City
City head to Buxton with spirits high.
Oxford City are back on the road. The Hoops make the journey up to Buxton for an Enterprise National League North clash, with spirits high after a resounding 5-0 victory over Alfreton Town.
Without bringing back bad memories of this fixture, Buxton did the double over The Hoops last season, including the 7-0 defeat at home.
But we will move on. Buxton come into this fixture in 19th position, with exactly the same record as City (2 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses) and are coming straight off the back of a 2-1 defeat away to Scarborough in midweek.
The Bucks are winless in the last three, but with the talent and financial backing they have, you can't imagine that form will last too much longer so City need to capitalise.
City don't have another home game until October, when Curzon Ashton come to The MGroup Stadium, and will look to continue their above. average away form from last season.
Oxford City Assistant Manager Andy Ballard, after the Alfreton win, said: "We've been unlucky in recent games, the two red cards were unfortunate but everyone is working really hard and they are taking on the information we are giving them.
"We can't wait for Saturday. We have some work to do during the week with recovery. It will be difficult, Buxton are a different type of opposition, obviously we are away from home, so we have some homework to do but this result is going to give us everything we need going into Saturday."
FIXTURE DETAILS
Buxton v Oxford City
The Tarmac Silverlands Stadium – Saturday 6th September – 3:00pm
Enterprise National League North
Referee: Shaun Taylor Assistant Referees: Michael Johnson & Jordan Tindall Fourth Official: David Constable
FORM
OXFORD CITY - D L L L W
The first midweek game for City saw the spoils split evenly with Kidderminster. Jack Bearne's first goal for The Hoops against his former club wasn't enough as Alex Penny's managed to snatch a point for The Harriers.
City hosted Spennymoor after the Kidderminster trip and after McEachran's equaliser, it looked as though The Hoops would go on to grab all three points. A late Glen Taylor free kick scarpered any hopes that City had and handed them their second defeat of the season.
Bank Holiday Monday saw City visit the Deva Stadium in Chester. An early Alfie Potter red card was swiftly followed by a Chester opening goal. On a positive note, Isaac Westendorf bagged his first for the club but ultimately, the 10-man Hoops fell to the promotion hopefuls.
The Hoops hosted Radcliffe a week ago as they looked to get back to winning ways and for half an hour it did look as though they would. A George Burroughs screamer put the Hoops in a commanding position. A late first half equaliser and a Byron Wilson red card swung the game in the other direction as Radcliffe ran away 5-1 winners with the scoreline not a reflection of the quality of the two sides.
City got back to winnings way with a resounding 5-0 win over a lacklustre Alfreton side. Goals from Isaac Westendorf, Darnell Johnson, DJ Campton-Sturridge, Josh Parker and Tom Scott mean The Hoops travel North with a spring in their step as they look to kick on and climb the table.
BUXTON- L W L D L
The Bucks have seen three red cards in the last five games and four in the last six. Only two of those were for Buxton. Make of that what you will...
Buxton have only won once in the last five and that came against Telford. George Ward was sent off midway through the second half before Luke Brennan scored the winner deep into added time.
Their three losses have come against Scarborough, Curzon Ashton and Hereford. They lost 2-1 to The Bulls, giving Hereford their win in four attempts against themselves. Tai Sodje scored a late consolation goal.
They lost 3-2 to a 10-man Curzon Ashton side. Tai Sodje put the Bucks ahead and Ryan McLean's 80th minute strike was little too late. The Scarborough defeat will leave a sour taste in the Derbyshire based sides' mouth. They let in two goals inside the first three minutes leaving them a mountain to climb. Luke Brennan pulled one back four minutes later but that was all they could muster.
They were reduced to 10 men once again against league leading South Shields. Tai Sodje put them in a commanding position before Max Bardell's red card opened the door for South Shields. Buxton would eventually hang on for a point despite the South Shields onslaught for the final 40 minutes.
Like City, Buxton have scored in every game this season and have come away with a singular clean sheet.
ONE TO WATCH - Luke Brennan
Brennan is a renowned threat in the National League North. He joined Buxton on a permanent transfer in November 2024 and his immediate impact earned him a spot in the National League North Team of the Season.
So far this season, the attacking right winger has scored three goals. His first came after 40 seconds in the season opener against Radcliffe.
The 23-year-old started his career with Blackburn Rovers. He worked his way through the system from U7s all the way to the first team, earning his debut in October 2020.
He was loaned out to fellow National League North side AFC Fylde in 2020 before moving to Wigan Athletic in 2022 with a loan spell with The New Saints. When his contract expired at the end of the 2024 season, Brennan returned to AFC Fylde on a one-year deal.
Brennan will cause City problems down the right and look to run at th defence and his goalscoring abilities will come to the fore, especially with the inclusion of Tai Sodje.
THE MANAGER - John McGrath
McGrath has had a short managerial career thus far but enjoyed an extensive playing career which began when he signed for Aston Villa in 1999 following a two-week trial.
He made two appearances for Villa before being sent on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge. From there he was a part of the Doncaster Rovers side that won the third division title.
McGrath spent six years at Burton Albion. During his first season they reached the playoff semi finals and McGrath was named the club's player of the year. During the 2008/9 season, McGrath made 48 appearances and scored 8 goals for Albion which was enough to earn the side promotion to League Two.
He joined Mickleover in 2015 when he was named as play-manager. He remained in the managerial role until 2024 when he joined Buxton.
HOW TO FOLLOW
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