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Match Preview

Match Preview

David Shadbolt28 Oct 2016 - 06:54
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United entertain Bishops Cleeve tomorrow afternoon (Saturday) in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy - kick-off 3.00pm.

This will be our first game in the competition this season, albeit hopefully not our last, but to get here tomorrow Bishops Cleeve had to negotiate a Preliminary Round tie against Didcot Town at Kayte Lane with a late goal from Kirk Layton sending the Mitres through.

In the league, Bishops Cleeve currently occupy a bottom half of the table position in the South & West Division. Though their home form has been decent enough, it is on the road that they have found things more difficult, that is until they beat Winchester City 2-1 away on Wednesday evening, a huge confidence boost ahead of tomorrow’s game.

We met Bishops Cleeve twice last season in our promotion winning season and though successful in Gloucestershire it was a difficult game at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, the game finishing in a 1-1 draw.

Longer term supporters may well remember us playing Bishops Cleeve for a couple of seasons back in our Hellenic League days, when they played at their old Stoke Road ground. Our Chairman certainly recalls our first meeting back in October 1990, for the reasons see article in the matchday programme.

Whilst our recent record in the FA Cup has been none too impressive, albeit this season was an improvement, our record in the Trophy has been better – not that it could be much worse! It is certainly a long time since the halcyon days of the 1970s when we twice reached the last 16 of the Trophy but at least we have won one or more games in the competition in five of the last seven seasons!

Should tomorrow’s game end in a draw then the replay will take place at Kayte Lane on Tuesday evening. That would mean our league game at St Neots Town on Tuesday being postponed and that game will also not take place if St Neots draw in the Trophy tomorrow away to Bedworth United.

United will be without centre-back Luke Carnell tomorrow who is cup-tied having played for Didcot Town in the Preliminary Round, ironically against Bishops Cleeve! Jacob Blackstock returns to the squad after his time with Antigua & Barbuda Under 20s.

A reminder to supporters that, as usual, the small bar will not be available before the game or at half-time as it is required for sponsors and guests. It will be open to all after the game.

Away supporters should use OX16 5AB for their Sat-Nav as the club’s official postcode may well take you elsewhere!

Tomorrow’s match is sponsored by SMR Projects Ltd

Admission Prices: Adults £10, Concessions (Over 60s and Full Time Students) £6, Under 16s £1.

Programme: £2

Kick-off 3.00pm

Free to sit in the stand

Hot Food available in the Clubhouse.

Free parking

Supporters should note that the old Chiltern Railways Car Park on the Tramway Industrial Estate is still available for parking free of charge. This will provide a quick getaway after the game, avoiding the problems of getting out of Station Approach and help ease possible parking congestion at the ground. Entrance is via Swan Close Road and car park is at the bottom on the right, it is free to park there, thanks to Chiltern Railways. Post Code for the Chiltern Railways Car Park is OX16 5TB. Turn right out of car park, through the bollards and turn right down Station Approach – ground is 300 yards on the right.

Further reading