JUSTIN Merritt feels Oxford City can be proud of their efforts, despite struggling in the second half of the campaign.

City end their Vanarama National League South season with a home game against champions Sutton United tomorrow.

Merritt’s side were in second place at the end of November and fourth at the turn of the year.

But a nine-match winless run saw them slip out the play-offs and they now need to win their final match to ensure a top-ten finish.

But general manager Merritt believes they have laid a platform for the future.

“It is a tough standard and there are a lot of big sides in our league with a lot of big budgets,” he said.

“We started really well and so are slightly disappointed with the way we have ended the campaign, but I think we have acquitted ourselves really well and can be proud of what we have achieved.

“We have competed with the top teams and I think we are in a good position with a solid foundation going forward.”

City’s boss puts the disappointing run of form earlier this year down to a number of factors.

But preparations are already under way to avoid a repeat next season.

“We lost several players when we were moved from the north to the south division, and with other players moving on naturally, it did not give us a lot of time to build,” he said.

“At the start of this year we suffered a lot of injuries, suspensions as well as experiencing a loss of form, and we sold a key player (Luke Coulson to Eastleigh) so there was a lot which did not help us.

“But we have received a lot of compliments along the way this season with many teams telling me we are the best footballing side in the division.

“Although that doesn’t win you matches, it is nice to hear as we are trying to do things the right way.

“We have already started planning pre-season and are meeting players so it doesn’t stop.”

Goalkeeper Laurie Walker is eligible to play, with his ban for last week’s red card against Dartford not taking effect until the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final.

However, Merritt says the club are appealing the dismissal.

“Laurie is available this weekend, but as things stand is out of the final against Oxford United,” he said.

“However, his red card was a shambles. To receive a straight red card for what he did was ridiculous and we are appealing it.”

City welcome back David King from a five-game ban, but injuries rule out Darren Pond, Marlon Jackson, Kaylem Patterson, Ander Del Alamo, Paul Stonehouse and Kynan Isaac.

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Sutton, home): from Walker, Bevans, Santiago, Henderson, Arzamendi, Lapoujade, Fleet, Lafuente, Bubb, Pifarré, Whichelow, Benjamin, Peake-Pijnen, Awadh, Hunte, King.