Oxford City 5-1 Oxford United: Story of the Match

Some of our younger players were taught a sharp lesson against local neighbours Oxford City, finding themselves on the end of a 5-1 drubbing from the Conference North side. It may only be a pre-season friendly, but it was nonetheless disconcerting to see our defence pulled apart so effortlessly by part-time players. Nonetheless, we've trawled through Twitter to bring you this report – if you can stomach it!

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The United v City View

In big footballing cities like Manchester and Liverpool, young supporters quickly learn to pick a side among the febrile atmosphere of local rivalry. This sees the city carved in half along club allegiances and the eternal tussle for supremacy being renewed with each passing generation.

The situation has always been rather different in Oxford. With a considerably smaller population of supporters, the area is able to sustain just one reasonably-sized club and fans gravitate towards the city’s senior side, with little competition for supporters or league honours to fan the flames of rivalry with Oxfordshire’s other clubs.

Prior to World War Two that ‘senior club’ was undoubtedly Oxford City and local football fans flocked to the White House Ground in their thousands to watch City in Isthmian League action. All of this changed when United adopted professionalism in 1949 and joined the Southern League, with crowds migrating from the White House to the Manor Ground due to the appeal of professional football.

Any ill-feeling caused by the reversal in fortunes of the city’s clubs, however, failed to be converted into a footballing rivalry due to the fact that the sides rarely met in competitive matches. The exception to this came in an FA Cup first round tie in 1951, which pitted the two Oxford clubs against each other for the first time in the Cup. United's position as Oxford’s foremost club was confirmed with a 3-0 victory at the Manor Ground in front of more than 8,000.

United, since then, have become clearly established as Oxford’s Football League team, with many supporters looking to non-league City almost as a little brother to United. In more recent years the two sides have met almost annually for pre-season friendlies, and City marked the opening of their Court Place Farm ground in 1993 with a friendly against their local neighbours. Meetings between the two sides have mostly been good-natured affairs, but tempers flared after a horror challenge from City defender Andy Baird on United’s talismanic striker James Constable in 2009.

On the whole, however, relations between the two Oxford clubs remain friendly, with former United stars often pitching up at City later in their careers. Former U’s favourites Steve Basham, Jamie Cook and Chris Wilmott have all been influential figures for City in recent seasons and can expect a warm reception from both sets of fans when the two sides meet on Tuesday.

But with United and City now separated by just two levels in the football pyramid and recent senior personnel changes at City suggesting a greater ambition to go further still, we could soon see a time when matches between the city’s two sides are more than just friendlies.

This article first appeared in Issue 2 of Off the Ball magazine, which can be downloaded for FREE here.

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MATCH REPORT: Oxford United 4-2 Oxford City

Oxford United are champions of Oxfordshire for the fourth time in five years after missing out on last year's final. It was an unusual match-up as a full-strength Oxford City side fresh from a successful debut season in the Conference North took on an experimental United lineup comprised of a mixture of young pros/youth team players and a smattering of current first-teamers (most of whom, I suspect, will have had their minds on the announcement of the retained list the following day).

City have just come off the back of a ridiculous run of matches, playing 12 games in April (an average of three matches per week) but if that left them tired out they didn't show it in the opening stages of the match as they threatened to run riot against the cobbled-together United side. 19-year-old Max Crocombe, who has looked assured in his recent first-team performances, was given a particularly tough time in the first half, finding himself caught out by a free-kick from United old-boy Jamie Cook, who was unlucky to see his effort come back off the frame of the goal.

Picture from @OUFCsNumber31

Cook was left cursing his luck again shortly after when another dangerous shot struck the post, but he was given a golden opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet when City were awarded a penalty. A nice passing move (which would have been impossible on the boggy surface of Court Place Farm – or at the Kassam for most of this season!) removed the youthful United defence from equation and as Cook burst through on goal he was brought down by Crocombe, who can consider himself lucky not to have been shown red. Cook made no mistake from the spot and City deservedly led at the break.

But while United were mostly reduced to chasing shadows for much of the first half, they responded well in the second and looked a lot brighter as the side began to settle. Youth team player Josh Ashby levelled the scores not long after the break with an excellent left-footed shot from outside the area which crept past City's teenage goalkeeper Nick Townsend (on loan from Birmingham).

And United were clearly in the ascendancy as they took the lead when Tyrone Marsh – who has been in good goalscoring form at Conference South Staines Town, scoring nine times in 16 appearances to help them avoid relegation – replicated Ashby's goal from the other side of the area. This appeared to sting City into action and they drew themselves level almost immediately as the commanding Darren Pond seized on a defensive mistake and slipped in top-scorer Felipe Barcelos to slide the ball past Crocombe. City were, perhaps understandably, the most keen to avoid extra time and pushed hard for a winner, but none came and the sides were forced to play an extra 30 minutes.

City were clearly tiring and JP Pittman – in his final appearance in a yellow shirt – took advantage as he accelerated through a gap in the defence and slipped the ball past Townsend to restore the lead. And from this point there looked to be little doubt about the final outcome, which was sealed in the final moments by substitute James Roberts – who has been on fire for the youth team this season – as he latched onto an excellent ball from Sam Long, beat his man and fired home to bring the Oxfordshire Senior Cup back to the Kassam.

It's always nice to end the season with some silverware, but more important to me was the interesting lineup which seemed symbolic of the transition the club is going through at the moment. As we said goodbye to Jon-Paul Pittman, Simon Heslop and Tony Capaldi – all of whom have now been released by the club – we were also given a glimpse into the future, with teenagers Max Crocombe, Sam Long, David Lynn, Tyrone Marsh, Callum O'Dowda, Josh Ashby and James Roberts all featuring. For many of those young players, this was the first chance they have had to test themselves against senior level opposition of Oxford City's quality and they rose to the challenge well. From tonight's indications, the future may be bright for this generation of youngsters.

Picture from @OxfordMailOUFC

United: Crocombe, Davies, Long, Capaldi, Lynn, Pittman, Heslop, Ashby, O'Dowda, Marsh, Constable (C)

City: Townsend, Benjamin, Learoyd, Willmott, Stonehouse, Pond, Ballard (C), Malone, Bell, Barcelos, Cook

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Non-League Day Preview

Sky's decision to move our trip to Port Vale to Monday for TV has left us with a blank weekend. But never fear, there is still plenty of football in Oxfordshire this weekend for yellows fans to get their fix. This Saturday is the annual Non-League Day event, timed to coincide with the international break for the Premier League and Championship, and clubs the length and breadth of the country are preparing to celebrate the Non-League game. So, with that in mind, why not head down to your local Non-League club and get involved this weekend?

MATCH REPORT: Yate Town 2-1 Oxford City

Oxford City's impressive Conference North form has been based on hard work, determination and an ability to grind out a result. All of those qualities were on display at Yate Town's Lodge Road on Saturday, but from the hosts, not City.

MATCH REPORT: Oxford City 2-0 Corby Town

While United were struggling to defeat at Cheltenham, Oxford City were again showing them the way with a 2-0 victory over CTFC – Corby Town. The victory moves City up to the dizzy heights of fourth, though most of their league rivals now have a game in hand.

MATCH REPORT: Harrogate Town 1-3 Oxford City

Oxford City continued their excellent start to life in the Conference North with an impressive 3-1 victory away at Harrogate Town. Harrogate were two places ahead of City on goal difference going into the match, but victory in North Yorkshire moved City above their opponents and leaves them just a point behind the play-off places.

MATCH REPORT: Oxford City 2-2 Altrincham

Ten-man Oxford City earned a hard-won point at home to Altrincham on Saturday. City trailed at the break after Altrincham's Damien Reeves scored from the penalty spot, with City captain Chris Wilmott being sent off for the challenge.

But the hosts struck back with two quick fire strikes from Declan Benjamin and Steve Basham early into the second half, before Altrincham again levelled the scores from the penalty spot with half an hour still to play.

MATCH REPORT: Oxford City 4-2 Boston United

Oxford City recovered from defeat at Halifax in style with a magnificent comeback victory over ex-League club Boston United in front of a sparse crowd of just 203. The crowds will be a concern for City, with attendance for the last two home games showing no increase over last season, despite no United games on the same day.

MATCH REPORT: Oxford City 2-2 Worcester City

Oxford City snatched a draw with the last kick of a match in which all the action was saved for the final few minutes. The draw leaves City just outside the play-off positions in sixth and unbeaten in their last three games. Their guests arrived at Court Place Farm unbeaten so far this season and in fourth pace in the table – another formidable test for Mike Ford's side.

A History of Amateur Football in Oxford Part 2

Our look back at the history of amateur football in Oxford continues. Don't forget to read part 1 if you haven't already.

A History of Amateur Football in Oxford Part 1

It is perhaps unusual that professional football came late to Oxford – with no team playing professionally in the city until 1949 – while geographically and culturally similar towns such as Reading and Swindon had professional teams from the mid-1890s. The lack of a professional outfit in Oxford disguises the fact that football was every bit as important and popular in the city during this time as it was in those neighbouring towns. However, whereas professionalism became an accepted part of football in much of the rest of Britain from the late 19^th century, in Oxford the traditional values of amateurism proved to be far more deep-seated.

Why Futsal is the Future for Oxford

The name Oxford Lions is probably unfamiliar to you. That's no surprise, this club is a baby both in terms of its size and age. However, in just over a year's existence they have risen to become one of the leading futsal clubs in the country. Perhaps the whirlwind success of the Lions is something we at OUFC should look to for inspiration.