Oxford City 1-2 Altrincham

[clive]

I wasn't at the game today, but was able to watch on TNT Sport ( BT Sport ).

I thought City deserved a draw from the game, but wasted a few good chances, and the first Altrincham goal was poor defending from Canice.

However, we more than matched a side expected to be in the play-off positions, but it results against the sides in the lower half of the table that will determine our fate, and games this week against Southend and Fylde will have a more important bearing on the league table.

Renny Smith is an interesting signing, having played last season in the Austrian Bundesliga, but tonight didn't look to offer more than Sanderson. However, it takes time to get adjusted to a new side, so too early to make definitive judgements.

Here is the detailed match report for anyone interested

fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/09/oxford-city-1-2-altrincham-att-600-est.html

[Rijs]

Thank you for another great report, Clive. I agree, a draw would have been fair, on the balance of possession and chances created. Altrincham were the better team for the first and last ten minutes, but City dominated much of the play in the middle stretch, and had their opponents looking rattled early in the second half until another giant keeper, Ross, went down for a long time after blocking Coyle's shot, and thereby broke their rhythm; but it was the withdrawal of Zac McEachran a little later which removed the sense of threat whenever we came forward, as they had difficulty coping with his runs, his balance on the ball and his superb control of it - they couldn't get the ball off him. Altrincham were well-organised and quick to break, but they were not faultless like Gateshead, and they looked a little anxious when pressed. But pressing is difficult when you have only one man up front, though Renny Smith did put in a big shift trying to help Josh from behind.

My City MoM today would be Tafari Moore. Quick, hungry for the ball and versatile, he can cross with both feet and he played down both wings today, changing after Williams-Bushell came on. The most encouraging 'positive' was Zac's return. Chris Haigh also deserves credit for two fine saves late on, and Josh Parker for battling bravely and holding the ball well on his own against, often, two defenders. But our finishing let us down, apart from Nya Kirby's composed choice of the right place to put his shot, and there were times when we played backwards from promising attacking positions.

So, we have now had more home defeats than we did in the whole of last season, though three of the four have been close games which could have been drawn. The pattern has been three defeats, but with a better performance in the third, followed by a fine seven-match unbeaten run, followed by another three defeats with a better performance in the third. Let's hope another good long run will begin at Southend on Tuesday.

[clive]

Thanks Rijs.

I wasn't sure if the change in the game was Zac going off, or the substitution Altrincham made that we didn't adapt to........

I would have given the MOTM to Kirby, but Moore also had a good game, and his versatility on both flanks is a great asset

[Graeme]

Thought we were the better team during the match and more so when watching it back afterward. Played some attractive football and took care of the ball. We had some really good chances in the first half, it was probably our best opening 45 minutes this season and were therefore rather unfortunate to go in behind. Felt they were on the ropes for much of the second half too and that their goal against the run of play changed everything. More so than Zac going off or the changes they had made to contain him, though both did clearly have some impact. Kirby was my MOTM as well. Renny Smith looks a decent signing too he seemed to slot in quickly. Overall I thought this was a confident performance by City given the two previous games, just let down somewhat by our finishing. We deserved at least a point but it has to be said they defended well and took their chances. The age old, better in both boxes cliché. If we keep playing this well we will undoubtedly pick up points. The real positive above and beyond the team performance was Zac managing 65 minutes and begining to look like himself.

[Rijs]

Yes, Kirby had a good game too. Moore was making runs and calling for the ball when in plenty of space, but the ball was often sent the other way. He delivers the best crosses for us. I thought the team responded to vocal encouragement from the Shed, which picked up after the Altrincham supporters suddenly moved back in there during the first half. Rivalry spurs singing! But maybe the Shed Enders were responding to some more lively play from the Hoops.