Oxford City 0 v 1 Dartford

Saturday 12th October 2019
National League South
Court Place Farm, Marston
Admission: £6.00 (half price with EFL Season Ticket)
Programme: £2.50
Attendance: 307

Today was  the annual "Non League Day", and it was a shame that the day specifically geared up towards attracting new fans to the non league game had persistent (albeit mostly light) rain falling almost constantly for the 24 hours in the lead up to the 3pm kick offs across the south of England. I decided to head northwards, where the rain was forecast to be more patchy than along the south coast, and to a ground that I could travel to in the certainty provided by the plastic pitch at Oxford City, enabling me to tick off my penultimate ground in the National League South, with the lure of being able to gain half price entry from the usual £12 today by showing my Charlton season ticket at the turnstile - every little helps in the costly hobby of groundhopping.

Court Place Farm is about three miles north-eastwards from Oxford train station, and so I decided to make use of Plusbus and let the bus take the strain, service 14a dropping me outside of the Court Place Farm complex entrance, then after a walk along a short lane, the turnstile block is situated in one corner of the ground. The clubhouse is situated behind the end closest to the entrance, bright and spacious inside, with a tea bar window in the exterior wall to the front, and has the entrance gates from the club's previous home, the White House Ground, in front of the hatch - a very nice touch. The club shop is housed in a portakabin to one side of the clubhouse, with programmes for sale just outside from a picnic table. A spacious area of uncovered standing is available between the clubhouse and the pitch railing. The changing rooms are located in a low building located close to the entrance along one length, with quite a long stand covering four rows of seating straddling the half way line. On the opposite side there is a stand covering a few steps of terracing, with a more modern all-seater stand towards the corner flag. There is a further stand covering a couple of terrace steps behind the remaining goal, with a big screen alongside showing highlights of a recent game, today's line-ups, and various other messages, and is an impressive feature of the ground considering the club's level in the pyramid. It's a functional ground with plenty of cover, although supporting pillars or floodlight pylons can obstruct one's view from all of the stands. The 44 page programme, in full colour and printed on good quality glossy paper, was well presented and a good read, containing all of the necessary stats to preview the game, as well as some interesting articles to read.

Oxford City were originally transferred to the National League North in the close season, but were switched back to the South division in June, as a knock-on effect of Gateshead's successful appeal in only being demoted one step to the National League North, thereby continuing Oxford's four season stay in the South. Dartford are also in their fifth season in the National League South and had appointed a new manager yesterday, Steve King, although he would not be in the dugout today. A glance at the league table suggested that today's game would be between two very evenly matched teams, with only goals scored separating the two teams. Both clubs had won two and drawn four of their opening ten league games, and both have a goal difference of -9, but Dartford are a place higher, in 17th out of 22 clubs, having scored 18 goals, compared with Oxford's 11.

Fortunately, the light rain that was forecast did not materialize, although it remained very overcast and increasingly chilly. The game got off to a slow start, with the first goalmouth action of note coming in the 14th minute, when the ball was fizzed in from the right by Oxford, taking a deflection behind. And they forced good saves from the Dartford keeper on 22 and 26 minutes, before Dartford took the lead on 35 minutes, Ben Greenhalgh running from his own half, unopposed until he approached the penalty area, from where he rifled the ball across the keeper and into the net. Oxford had a big shout for a penalty three minutes later when it appeared that Finn Tapp was pulled to the floor following a corner, but nothing was given and Dartford saw out the half with their slender lead.

The visitors should have doubled their lead barely a minute after the break when the ball was passed back from the byline to an unmarked Greenhalgh towards the edge of the area, but he skied the ball well over the bar. On 55 minutes, Reece Beckles-Richards saw his shot came back off the left hand post, whilst on 61 minutes, a Dartford player showed terrific pace to run past the defence with the ball, but his eventual shot went just over the bar. Oxford did manage to create some decent chances during the remainder of the game, the pick of which saw a shot blocked on the line as they piled on the pressure in the closing minutes, but they couldn't find an equaliser, and Dartford held on for the three points.

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here