FA CUP – SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND

OXFORD City manager Mike Ford says the pressure is off his side tomorrow as they entertain Skrill South opponents Maidenhead United, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

City are still without a win in their Skrill North campaign and Ford believes that the FA Cup could serve as a welcome distraction from what has been a difficult start to the season.

“There’s no pressure this weekend because it’s the FA Cup and there’s no expectation on us to get the win,” he said.

“Hopefully that’ll loosen us up, because in the last three league games we’ve been a bit introverted in the first half and it’s only been in the second half that we’ve freed up slightly.

“It’s important that the players feel comfortable going into the match so that they can give that kind of performance.”

New signing Marvin Robinson is expected to feature again for City after signing from local rivals Brackley Town last week.

The former Oxford United striker made his debut in City’s 1-0 defeat at Vauxhall Motors last weekend.

Ford was please to recruit the 33-year-old, and believes he will be an important addition to the side.

He said: “He brings a lot of Football League experience, he provides a good target and he knows his job.

“Mike Symons was struggling a bit last week and Steve Basham is carrying a groin injury so we were without a target man up front.

“Marvin came in and he did a really good job last week.

“He suffered a bit of cramp towards the end of the match, but it was his first game in a while and he did well.”

He added: “We’re always looking to improve and to add players to the squad, but it’s difficult at this time of the year because parent clubs won’t allow their players to become cup-tied.”

City name an unchanged squad.

Oxford City (v Maidenhead United, home): Francoz, Clifton, Stonehouse, Pond, Henderson, Willmott, Williams, Malone, Symons, McNish, Winters, Cook, Benjamin, Learoyd, Basham, Scott, Robinson.