FOOTBALL: Ford - Players are raring to go (From Oxford Mail)

FOOTBALL: Ford - Players are raring to go

10:00am Friday 1st February 2013 in Headlines By Nick Farrant, Sports reporter specialising in Non League Football. Call me on 01865 425488

Oxford City manager Mike Ford is hoping that a week of tough training will ensure his players are at the peak of fitness when they take on Hinckley in Blue Square Bet North tomorrow.

Recent postponements due to the bad weather means City have not played since January 12 when they lost 1-0 at Guiseley.

However, Ford and his backroom staff have made the best of the lay-off by putting the players through their paces with extra training sessions.

“We have worked them really hard this week,” said Ford.

“With Saturday’s game (at Stalybridge) off we trained and also had them in on Tuesday and last night.

“We’ve done gym work, training on the 3G (artificial pitch), lifted weights and also run up a few hills.

“We have to make sure we are competitive from the first whistle.

“It has been difficult to prepare for games with the weather as it is, but we have tried to make the best of it.

“I’m looking forward to seeing us on a football field again.

“The pitch looked decent yesterday, but if we get some more rain the game could be in doubt.”

City will be without Declan Benjamin (suspended) and Josh Mulvany (away), though Steve Basham is set to return.

Oxford City: from Ingram, Gunn, Stanley, McNish, Learoyd, Willmott, Pond, Ballard, Barcelos, McEachran, Basham, Cook, Glass, Bell, M Janes, Holgate.

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