Oxford City v Willand Rovers
The FA Cup continues again this weekend with a bang as we have a huge test ahead of us with David Steele’s men travelling to National League North side Oxford City in the Second Qualifying Round of the competition.
In what could be considered one of Rovers’ biggest games in the last decade and potentially history, the cup fever has swept the village and the magic of the Cup sprinkled a sense of hope as, in the previous season the Hosts were playing against some of the biggest sides in non-league and now the Village side from Devon is ready to attempt a David vs Goliath tie to progress into the third qualifying round.
To get to this stage Rovers have conquered AFC St. Austell, Mousehole AFC and Brixham AFC with 6 goals in those 4 games under our belt in the competition already. Last week though was the end of one Cup Run as rovers bowed out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle Bishops Cleeve took their chances in the latter stages of the game and booked their place in the next round with a 2-0 win where Cleeve striker Jay Malshanskyj got both to end Rovers’ unbeaten run across all competitions.
Though it may have been a disappointing afternoon at Silver Street, there was still a glimmer of prosperity with a chance at Cup glory the next weekend. Oxford City are the team to beat in the second round but they won’t want to continue their torrid form as life in the National League North has not been kind to them with the Hoops rock bottom of the division.
Last season, Oxford City were in the National League alongside some huge EFL giants of days past and arguably some top-quality players so being newly promoted and first-timers to the division didn’t quite make the jump and at the first time of asking fell back into the regional national league system.
City has also got multiple significant players to look out for including former EFL bagsman Josh Parker who has turned out for QPR, Oxford United and Charlton Athletic with even an international stint over in Domžale between 2013-2015 and has also represented his nation of Antigua and Barbuda 36 times and scoring 5 in those games.
Their manager Sam Cox has certainly been in the spotlight in recent years as well he played a part in the Apple TV series Ted Lasso as a West Ham player named Armando but with a portfolio of Non-League experience in his playing career, management is still a new game for the gaffer so it will certainly be his first test in cup competition.
Whatever happens with the result on Saturday, it will still be a momentous day for Willand as it’ll be a chance to test themselves against former EFL players and near enough pro but all will be decided in 90 minutes hopefully as the story continues on the 14th September.
