Oxford City away

[GlenSTFC]

The only way a draw would keep us in the hunt is if all the teams above us lost or drew which is quite unlikely. I think it’s quite clear we need to win all 3 remaining games and then hope others slip up, we only have a slim chance... up until now there’s been no pressure and it’s probably helped us go on the run we’re enjoying. But now Saturday’s match is a must win in terms of grabbing a play off place it’ll be interesting to see how we fare.

[Neil Baker]

Whilst we are a lot closer to the play offs, as has been said a number of sides would still need to slip up, there is certainly no pressure from our point of view, again we will just go out work hard, enjoy the day, and hope we prevail with 3 points.

Be great to have an excellent following, and looks like that will be the case.

[Curtis]

Just to clarify, in my opinion making the play-offs is still such a long shot (probably about 15/1), that it is in no way an expectation, it is only a day dreamy hope, and nobody should be feeling any pressure on Saturday.... this season has already been a roaring success, everyone should be proud of.

 

[GlenSTFC]

Absolutely, I’m going into the game feeling confident of a win but if we don’t I’m not going to be suicidal. Ok it’ll most probably mean that slim chance of the PO’s is gone but that was never a realistic expectation this season so to even be talking about it shows massive progress again. 

[Reading Rebel]

21 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

Absolutely, I’m going into the game feeling confident of a win but if we don’t I’m not going to be suicidal. Ok it’ll most probably mean that slim chance of the PO’s is gone but that was never a realistic expectation this season so to even be talking about it shows massive progress again. 

Completely agree Glen. The fact that we re still in with squeak is testament to what a good season we've had. 

[Rebellier]

Whatever happens, our last game at Truro is one that the rest of the division will be hoping we win to possibly send them down....thus keeping it very interesting for us with or without play offs.

[GlenSTFC]

Is there a hatred towards Truro or is just geographical?

[Rebellier]

Mostly geographical, but I seem to recall some shenanigans with floodlight failures(when losing), last minute match call offs etc...

[Shredding Green]

10 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

The only way a draw would keep us in the hunt is if all the teams above us lost or drew which is quite unlikely. I think it’s quite clear we need to win all 3 remaining games and then hope others slip up, we only have a slim chance... up until now there’s been no pressure and it’s probably helped us go on the run we’re enjoying. But now Saturday’s match is a must win in terms of grabbing a play off place it’ll be interesting to see how we fare.

One thing that is not "likely" but "actual fact" is that the teams between second and tenth have five matches between them in the next three days. This means that they can not avoid dropping between fifteen and twenty points from those matches alone. There are eight other matches involving one of the teams between second and tenth. This division says that they are not likely to result in eight wins. The mathematical possibilities for Rebels are enormous ... provided that they win at Marsh Lane. But with the incredible support that is building up for that match they should be able to do what they need to do ... whilst the arithmetic takes care of the rest.

[3spirit]

8 hours ago, Shredding Green said:

One thing that is not "likely" but "actual fact" is that the teams between second and tenth have five matches between them in the next three days. This means that they can not avoid dropping between fifteen and twenty points from those matches alone. There are eight other matches involving one of the teams between second and tenth. This division says that they are not likely to result in eight wins. The mathematical possibilities for Rebels are enormous ... provided that they win at Marsh Lane. But with the incredible support that is building up for that match they should be able to do what they need to do ... whilst the arithmetic takes care of the rest.

I'm glad you've cleared that one up, Shredding Green !? ha ha!

Oxford City shouldn't be underestimated. They have a good manager and carry an attacking threat. I'm expecting goals in this game plus they are coming into the game with three wins on the trot, one of which was beating Concord Rangers away[0-1] and keeping out Concord's potent strike force for a clean sheet. So I'm not expecting a walk in the park for Slough.       

Edited April 19, 2019 by 3spirit

[Reading Rebel]

7 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

I'm glad you've cleared that one up, Shredding Green !? ha ha!

Oxford City shouldn't be underestimated. They have a good manager and carry an attacking threat. I'm expecting goals in this game plus they are coming into the game with three wins on the trot, one of which was beating Concord Rangers away[0-1] and keeping out Concord's potent strike force for a clean sheet. So I'm not expecting a walk in the park for Slough.       

And I thought it was just me being thick  

Agree Oxford have nothing to lose, play good football and as you say are a good attacking force and in form.

It has all the makings of an exciting game full of goals.  

[carols52]

8 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

And I thought it was just me being thick  

Agree Oxford have nothing to lose, play good football and as you say are a good attacking force and in form.

It has all the makings of an exciting game full of goals.  

Slough are hardly prolific scorers this season and defence is pretty tight,feel one goal will win this game support will be crucial we will be there in numbers. 

[3spirit]

1 minute ago, Reading Rebel said:

And I thought it was just me being thick  

Agree Oxford have nothing to lose, play good football and as you say are a good attacking force and in form.

It has all the makings of an exciting game full of goals.  

I think on paper it looks like it should be an entertaining game, as both teams are used to playing on 3g, and both sides have winners in midfield that can turn a game in their team's favour,  which should lead to chances at both ends. Wouldn't say either side has the best set of forwards but it is evident that Oxford score more goals than Slough but Slough's team is built on their tight defence, so who will come out on top tomorrow is anyone's guess. 

Just hope they don't cancel one another out and end up with a 0-0 !

The thing with Oxford City is that you never know, what you will get from them. Their form seems to fluctuate between playing like world beaters to losing cheaply every other week. While Slough seem to grind out results and are a steady eddie side [pardon the pun] in that they play to a game plan, have good organisation,will work hard all over the pitch, have a great team ethic and are hard to beat but are somewhat predictable. Perhaps that's why both teams are in mid-table.

There's room to improve both sides but currently I view Slough ahead of Oxford in terms of what players we have and how the teams are progressing. Oxford's team is nowhere near as good, as they were last season IMO.  I'm going for a 2-1 win to Slough.

[GlenSTFC]

Erm... Oxford City have the 3rd highest goal scorer in the league and has scored a total of 34 goals so far.

[Reading Rebel]

25 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

Erm... Oxford City have the 3rd highest goal scorer in the league and has scored a total of 34 goals so far.

Quite right Glen.

Kabongo Tshimanga is the NLS divisions 3rd top scorer with 22 goals.

For a side that's in mid table that's pretty impressive.

[3spirit]

36 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

Erm... Oxford City have the 3rd highest goal scorer in the league and has scored a total of 34 goals so far.

Yes I know that but just having one great striker doesn't win you football matches as otherwise Oxford City wouldn't be in mid table,would they?

It helps, and maybe had Slough had someone as prolific, we might have nailed down a play off position by now but unfortunately our strikers didn't oblige.

 

 

[Reading Rebel]

11 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

Yes I know that but just having one great striker doesn't win you football matches as otherwise Oxford City wouldn't be in mid table,would they?

It helps, and maybe had Slough had someone as prolific, we might have nailed down a play off position by now but unfortunately our strikers didn't oblige.

 

 

Most teams who nail a play-off position have a mixture of both.

[3spirit]

24 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Quite right Glen.

Kabongo Tshimanga is the NLS divisions 3rd top scorer with 22 goals.

For a side that's in mid table that's pretty impressive.

 Over 20 goals looks a great return for any striker.

For me, though, I would just like to see how many of his goals came against top quality opposition, as any striker can bang in goals against weak defences but a striker's mettle is proven beyond doubt, by how many goals they get against quality defences. Let's hope he doesn't get a sniff of a goal tomorrow.

[GlenSTFC]

I’m pretty certain if we had a 34 goal striker we’d be in the top 5!

Oxford Mail match preview:

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/football/nonleague/17584389.oxford-city-set-to-be-boosted-by-zac-mceachran-return/

[Alan Greenaway]

As well as Kabongo Tshimanga they have Thomas- Asante on loan from MK Dons. He played against us last year proved quite a handful and scored a hat rick in the first half.. A good test for the defence but I am hoping their experience will prevail.