It’s a full house of fixtures for the youths and seniors at the weekend, with important points and cup run’s up for grabs……
Town 1st Team will be hoping to move themselves further away from the likely relegation position at the foot of NBFL Division 1, as they entertain pointless Dorchester FC at Tucker Park. Kick off is at 2.30pm, with Town sitting second bottom on six points and a win will see a healthy gap appearing to the visitors with games running out. The two sides met in early December, with Town winning 3-1 through two Dan Oyston strikes and a Richard Evans finish. A repeat score line will go down a treat for the club and provide the lads with a bit of momentum going into the next months worth of fixtures. Squad news see’s Martyn Gatehouse (Injury), Richard Evans (Illness) & Josh Forth (Work) all miss out.
The Reserves will be hoping a cup match will give them a chance to remove their thoughts of the current poor league campaign, as they travel to NBFL Division 5 side, Watlington Town Reserves in the AG Kingham Cup 1/4 final. Kick off is at 2.00 pm and with Town three divisions higher than the host, on paper will be strong favourites, however without a league or cup victory since October, confidence is low and the management team will hope a convincing performance and hopefully a win, will set them in good stead for their next four home league and cup ties. Town’s last win was in the previous round, with a 3-1 home victory over another Division 5 side, Burghclere Reserves, whilst the home side have had wins over Hagbourne United Reserves & Wallingford Town Reserves. Town are without Jacko Puzey & Dave Owens through injury.
The A Team are again at home in NBFL Division 4, with title chasers Wallingford Town Reserves the visitors for this 2.30pm kick off. The A’s will only have two home fixtures remaining after this weekend, with five away and so will be hoping to spring a major surprise against the visitors who sit only three points off the leagues summit. Wally’s climb up the table was halted last weekend, when they fell to a 4-3 defeat on the road to Lambourn Sports Reserves and will be eager to apply the pressure on the leaders. Town, who sit in ninth position will know this won’t be an easy task, however their fighting performance last time out after falling two goals behind, will give the young side some confidence. Joe Weatherall has been promoted to the Reserves this week.
Moving onto the youth sides and the three Development sides are all in action on Saturday morning. The under 8’s are the only side at Tucker Park, as Oxford City visit for a 10.30am kick off The under 9’s & 10’s are both on the road to Oxford to face Quarry Rovers, kick offs are at 10.30am and 12.00pm.
On to Sunday and the under 12’s will travel to Hinksey Park International in the Spring C League, looking to collect their opening win of the campaign. Two draws from the three fixtures see’s the side sit in fifth position, two higher than pointless International.
The under 13’s are back at Tucker Park, with a B League fixture with St Edmunds from Abingdon. The two sides met in November, with Town winning 2-1 and they will go into the return match as favourites, sitting in joint second and the visitors second bottom.
Town under 15’s are hopefully going to get their Knockout Cup fixture with Cumnor Minors played, after the fixture being postponed on three occasions due to a waterlogged pitch. Kick off on Sunday morning is at 10.30 am, Tucker Park the venue and the visitors being from the A League, being hot favourites.
The under 16’s on Sunday afternoon are at Tucker Park, with Kidlington Youth Celtic the visitors for this 2.00pm kick off. The two sides sit in 4th & 5th positions and the return fixture earlier in the season saw the sides draw 2-2, so another tight match is expected.
The under 17’s who sit in 5th position, welcome Summertown Stars to Tucker Park in the B League, with this visitors in 7th position and the two sides separated by only one point. Town know a win, will allow them to challenge the top three.
