Match Preview | Oxford City v Hereford
Hoops host Hereford in midweek
Oxford City host Hereford at The MGroup Stadium on Tuesday (4th November) as the Enterprise National League games come thick and fast.
The Hoops come into the game having lost six of the last eight and are winless through that run. However, there are still many positives to take from our last few games. City have been dominant during the majority of these games and have been the better of the two sides consistently.
Hereford, on the other hand, have had a recent downturn in form. Their five game unbeaten run came to an end with the loss to South Shields. They haven't managed to collect three points since.
The last time the sides met, Hereford left The MGroup Stadium having netted a late winner. City did win the first fixture of last season with a 2-0 win at Edgar Street.
Oxford City Manager Ross Jenkins said: "It's a chance to steady the ship. We have two games at home this week and we have more than enough talent to achieve the targets we had at the start of the season.
"It's up to us to make sure that happens and we are all working hard to do that."
FIXTURE DETAILS
Oxford City v Hereford
The MGroup Stadium – Tuesday 4th November – 7:45pm
Enterprise National League North
Referee: Jason Porter Assistant Referees: Richard Cutts & Mudiwa Manyange Fourth Official: Chad Greatorex
FORM (League Only)
OXFORD CITY - D L L D L
These form guides probably make for some bad reading for City fans. The. Hoops were once again on the wrong side of the result as Bedford left The MGroup Stadium with all three points.
Defeats to Southport and Bedford twice have condemned City to just two points from their last five games.
These came from a 1-1 draw with Leamington after The Brakes netted in the 95th minute and a three-all draw with Chorley after Adam Henley netted in the final minute of regulation time.
HEREFORD - W L D L D
The Bulls had their unbeaten streak come to end with a loss to South Shields. This defeat was followed up with a 1-1 draw at home to AFC Telford.
Hereford came close to snatching a point at Fylde before Utsabasi netted the winner in the 94th minute.
Their most recent outing, a home game against Curzon Ashton turned into quite the spectacle. The Bulls went three goals down in half an hour, but an Omari Sterling-James second-half hat-trick with the final two coming in added time earned The Bulls a point.
ONE TO WATCH - Omari Sterling-James
A Birmingham City academy product, Omari gained vital experience in the men’s game from a young age joining Alvechurch at just 19.
With an abundance of experience in the national league system, Sterling-James has played over 200 games at both step 1 and 2 for the likes of Solihull Moors, Brackley Town, Ebbsfleet and Kidderminster Harriers.
The forward hasn’t just stayed in the non-league system, he has made almost 50 appearances in League Two for Cheltenham Town and Mansfield Town.
An internationally capped player, Omari has run out for his national side, St. Kitts & Nevis, over 30 times.
THE MANAGER - Paul Caddis
Caddis has been in charge of The Bulls since April 2023. He signed a two-year deal and is proving to be more than capable as he took Hereford to their highest ever finish with their highest ever points total, resulting in a one-year extension.
He also enjoyed an illustrious playing career, playing more than 350 times and representing Scotland at both youth and senior level.
Caddis started his career with Scottish Premier League club Celtic. He broke into the first team during the 2007–08 season, but never managed to hold down a starting place over the next few years. He spent the second half of the 2008–09 season on loan to Dundee United. Caddis was sold to English League One club Swindon Town in August 2010.
He spent the 2012–13 season on loan to Birmingham City, joined the club on a permanent contract in September 2013, and in the final match of that season, he scored the stoppage-time goal that saved the team from relegation from the Championship.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
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There's also LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.
