ROSS Jenkins was delighted with the impact his substitutes made as Oxford City came from behind to beat Hartlepool United at a roasting Court Place Farm.
The Hoops were 2-1 down against a Pools side playing in Sky Bet League Two last season, but an inspired double change from Jenkins shortly before the hour mark turned the game around.
Aaron Williams-Bushell and Pierre Fonkeu replaced Lewis Coyle and Alfie Potter to provide fresh legs going forward, while the alterations also saw City change formation too.
Jenkins boldly moved from the three at the back which has served the Hoops so well during his tenure, to a 4-3-3 system with Williams-Bushell and Fonkeu in support of Olly Sanderson in attack.
Just four minutes after the changes, City grabbed themselves an equaliser through Canice Carroll, while Josh Ashby and Fonkeu would put the Hoops 4-2 in front within six minutes of Carroll’s leveller.
Asked about the substitutions and how they altered the game, Jenkins responded: “In the first half, they got out a few too many times and we knew that would happen, we’ve watched a few of their games.
“The heat took it out of our legs to actually engage higher.
“The starting team did very well in the first half, to weather things and dig deep, and play some nice stuff.
“We just needed some fresh legs, there wasn’t anything wrong, but we needed to go and get a goal.
“We thought that having a bit more forward thrust with the boys coming on fresh, keen and ready, and it definitely changed the game.
“It’s a squad game and we’ve got boys who want to play every minute of every game all season, but it’s just not possible.
“When they impact like that though, it gives me a real headache.”
It’s a hot one at Court Place Farm as @OxCityFC welcome Hartlepool United. Two changes for the hosts as Tom Harrison and Alfie Potter replace Andre Burley and Josh Parker, who are away on international duty pic.twitter.com/VeFnRJfwex
— Liam Rice (@OxMailLiamRice) September 9, 2023
Temperatures in Oxford reached 30 degrees according to the Met Office, with the Hoops’ 3G turf reflecting that heat and making the pitchside heat much higher.
Jenkins said: “We tried to block it out but in the first half, it showed a little bit and maybe the weather was getting to us and we were treading water a little bit.
“In the second half, we wanted to shake things up and we came out a different team.
“The boys who came off the bench really added to us and we can’t argue with that scoreline. It was a pleasing day.
“In the second half, we went into a different gear and our fitness levels showed, as they have done all season.
“A big credit to the players for that because they’ve got to buy into what we want and apply it on the pitch.
“When you get a result like that, it brings a feel to the group and we’ve got to take that into Saturday now.”
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