Notts County will host Oxford City in the Quarter Finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy after the Magpies beat Havant & Waterlooville on penalties in the last round to go through at the weekend.
The draw which was made on Monday pits County against a National League South division team, currently sixth and one that beat Peterborough Sports in the last round of the Trophy on Saturday to set themselves up a cracking last eight tie for a place in the semi-finals in the non-league’s premier KO cup route to Wembley.
Oxford are Managed by former Luton Town and Leicester City midfielder David Oldfield and have the experienced Elliot Benyon in attack and a recent signing in Micheal Elechi in defence, a Manchester United academy star that has mixed it with the best, before moving to Oxford United whom he made his cross city loan move from.
Goals from James Roberts and Reece Fleet helped Oxford to a 2-0 win at the weekend whilst Notts drew 2-2 with Havant & Waterlooville as both sides ended with ten men before Goalkeeper Luke Pilling saved the day during spot kicks to help Neal Ardley’s side to a 4-2 shootout win.
In a good start to the week for Notts, Ardley was also crowned January’s Vanarama National League Manager of the Month yesterday after an unbeaten start to the year with Notts beating Solihull and Weymouth, and drawing with leaders Torquay, scoring three goals and conceding zero, Ardley stating “I don’t take it personally – I take it as a sign of the work we’re all doing.”
Notts are in action tonight, as they take on Dagenham & Redbridge at Meadow Lane in a 6pm kick off that can be streamed on the clubs website.
County currently sixth, have four games in hand on the league leaders Torquay although thirteen points below them, the Daggers are seventeenth, seven points below Notts having played two games more. A win will bring County to within ten points of top of the table should Wealdstone beat Torquay in their match also tonight.
Ardley is expected to make several changes from the team that went through in the Trophy, with a more familiar look to the side that beat Weymouth last time out, which means return to starts for the likes of Sam Slocombe, Dion Kelly-Evans, Jake Reeves, Michael Doyle and Kyle Wootton amongst others.
Full Draw for the FA Trophy Quarter Finals which will be played on Saturday 27th February 2021 below:
- Notts County v Oxford City
- Darlington v Hornchurch
- Aldershot Town v Hereford
- Woking v Torquay United
*Main image @Official_NCFC the Notts players celebrate a tough fifth round victory at the weekend.
