PAUL Stonehouse and Declan Benjamin will play no part in Oxford City’s Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round tie tomorrow after completing 28-day loans to Slough Town.
Both were involved in Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division side Slough’s 4-1 victory over Dorchester Town on Tuesday evening.
But general manager Justin Merritt said they will still have a part to play for City this season.
“It’s not a long-term thing,” he said.
“We just wanted to give them some match time and get some minutes to keep them razor sharp.
“Slough is obviously not too far away and they’re only a division below, so they’re playing at a good level.”
City’s opponents tomorrow, Bognor Regis Town, play at the equivalent level and are sixth in the Ryman League Premier Division with just one defeat in their last ten games.
They overcame Vanarama National League North side Lowestoft Town in the previous round, sounding a warning to City ahead of this weekend’s clash.
“Obviously we’ll have to prepare properly, because they’re a very good footballing side,” said Merritt.
“There’s not a lot of difference between the top six in the league below and the sides that we play every week.
“We’re probably slight favourites, but we must make sure we perform to our usual standards.”
“On the day, any side is capable of beating us.”
And Merritt urged his side to keep their eye on their ultimate ambition of joining the Football League clubs in the draw for the first round.
He added: "That’s our target and it would be a real achievement.”
“We’re happy with what we’re doing, but we haven’t achieved any of our aims yet, so we have to keep focused.”
TOMORROW’S SQUAD
Oxford City (v Bognor Regis Tn, away): from Walker, Coulson, Lapoujade, Santiago, Del Alamo, King, Isaac, Lafuente, Fleet, Pifarré, Sterling-James, Arzamendi, Mukendi, McDonagh, Bubb, Pond, Hill.
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