OXFORD City will return to Meadow Lane aiming to banish some cup demons – and boss David Oldfield is relishing the challenge.
The National League South side take on high-flying Notts County in the quarter finals of the FA Trophy after knocking out Peterborough Sports last weekend and if you like to have flutter check out these new customer betting offers.
The Hoops met the Magpies, then of League Two, in the 2017 FA Cup second round, but were denied a famous replay by virtue of a cruel 95th-minute winner.
Notts, semi-finalists in last year’s Trophy, are on the Wembley trail again although City have been equally impressive in both the league and this club history- making run.
“It was a very good result for us, a very difficult game against a really progressive team,” Oldfield, appointed last March, told The NLP on Saturday after their 2-0 victory over Sports. “We had to dig deep to get through and we were very pleased to get a positive result.
“It was a very difficult tie and a real positive for Peterborough to come and perform and be in the Trophy having not played any previous league games.
“We knew how difficult the game would be prior to Peterborough and we absolutely know how difficult the game is going to be going to Notts County.” Up to yesterday, Oxford were unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions, winning nine of them.
By the same token, Notts had only lost twice in their last 15 fixtures which has pushed them firmly into promotion contention.
“We need to try and go there and do ourselves justice,” said Oldfield, the former Manchester City striker.
“We need to work as hard as we possibly can and then it is another cup tie that anything can happen.
“We look forward to the challenge and it’s another opportunity to play in a cup game. Oxford City went to Notts County in the FA Cup not too long ago and played really well, it’s going to be another tough game which hopefully we can perform.” The FA Trophy tie could be the last match of Oxford’s season if the vote goes against their wish to continue playing.
“The players have responded very well to the uncertainty over the league,” added Oldfield. “They have managed to just concentrate on the task ahead and hopefully we can continue to do that. We don’t know if we’re continuing, we don’t quite know who we’re going to be playing because there’s some doubts all over the place.
“The players have managed to be able to be flexible and have the ability to improvise when need be.
“As long as we can keep working as hard as we possibly can and as a collective group then that’s all we can really ask for. If the run continues, fabulous, but all the games are so difficult anything can happen in our league games, it really is as tight and as competitive as that. We’re under no illusions we just need to keep working hard and we’ll see what happens.”
