William Bewsey
2:53pm, Thu 27th Feb 2025
Oxford City vs Woking
FA Trophy Quarter Final
Saturday 1st March 2025
15:00 Kick-Off
Woking travel to Oxford City with both sides knowing that they could be just 90 minutes from Wembley should either side progress on Saturday.
Neal Ardley will hope that injury to Matt Ward won’t keep him out for long, though he’s unlikely to feature here, whilst the other casualty from the trip to Forest Green is Junior Morias, and he’s cup tied. Chinwike Okoli is also cup tied, meaning Ardley’s options are slightly limited as the Cards aim for only their second semi final since 2006.
In 2021, Woking defeated Torquay United 1-0 at the Laithwaite to set up a semi final with Hereford, where they were defeated by the same scoreline.
Opposition Watch
With relegation confirmed months before the season ended, Oxford City waited for the news surrounding whether they would drop into the National North or South. It was to be the north, with the geographical challenges that come with a side just 56 miles from London travelling to South Shields and Spennymoor.
After a turbulent start, Sam Cox departed and Ross Jenkins, who was appointed Boreham Wood manager in the summer, returned to the MGroup Stadium in late September. His side currently sit 20th, desperate to avoid back-to-back relegations, with a three point buffer over Needham Market.
Consecutive 0-0 home draws over title challengers Scunthorpe and Chester have given Jenkins’ side some confidence of avoiding the drop, with their trophy exploits seeing Sporting Khalsa, Hadley, Biggleswade Town and, most impressively, Forest Green Rovers in the last round all eliminated. As one of two sixth tier sides left in the division, Oxford have to come through six games unscathed to get to Wembley: they’re two thirds of the way there.
Around the Ground
Ticket information is available
here.
There are
no seats left on the Cards Trust supporters coach.
Last Time Out
Jayden Luker and Lewis Walker secured the points in a 2-0 home success last season for the Cards. Oxford took the points in November 2023 with a 3-2 home win of their own, with those the first meetings between the sides since 2019.
In this competition, Woking have defeated their opponents twice, most recently with a 1-0 home win in 2016.
