Oxford City can enjoy unprecedented success in both Vanarama Conference North and the FA Trophy this season, according to general manager Justin Merritt, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

City brushed aside Wimborne Town 3-0 in the first round on Saturday, and Merritt feels they can go a long way in the competition.

“We want to get ourselves right up there in the play-off positions and also challenging in this competition,” he said.

“It was 64 teams today, now it’s down to 32 and why not Oxford City into the last 16 or so?”

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City’s immediate attention returns to the league on Saturday, almost a month after their last league game.

While they have been otherwise engaged, their rivals have continued to pick up points.

But Merritt feels that could benefit City in the long run.

He added: “It won’t have done us any harm to slip down to eighth in the table.

“While you’re in the top three everyone’s hitting at you, but what we can do now is just accumulate points and get some results.

“We could be the surprise package that gets in that play-off position.”

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