January 24, 2026
Today’s National League North match at Court Place Farm saw a meeting of 20th vs 2nd as Oxford City entertained AFC Fylde.
Oxford City Update
These diaries last reported on Oxford City two weeks ago when a header from centre-back Darnell Johnson in added on time gave The Hoops a 2-1 victory over Buxton and saw them move out of the bottom four. Their one game since was at FA Cup giant-killers Macclesfield, and a depleted squad through illness conceded three times in the second half to lose 0-3. The loss saw The Hoops slip down to 20th in the table, and all the sides below them had games in hand.
Oxford City had been active in the loan transfer market since the Buxton game, with ex-Forest Green Rovers, Exeter City and Accrington Stanley keeper Jonny Maxted joining from Brackley Town for the rest of the season, and young left-back Evan Humphries joined from West Bromwich Albion on a one month deal.
AFC Fylde
The Borough of Fylde includes the towns of St Annes, Lytham, Kirkham and Wesham located on part of the coastal Fylde plain from which it takes its name. It is bordered by Blackpool to the north, Preston to the east, the Irish Sea to the west and the Ribble estuary to the south. The population of the Borough is around 85,000.
The Open Championship has been held at Lytham and St Annes on 11 occasions, the last time in 2012 when Ernie Els was triumphant. It was also famously the scene of Seve Ballesteros’ recovery shot from the car park on his way to winning the 1979 Open. Fylde Rugby Club play in Lytham and St Annes, and Preston born Andrew Flintoff started as a junior at St Annes cricket club.
AFC Fylde play in Wesham at the 6,000 capacity Mill Farm and their nickname is The Coasters.
The club were founded in 1988 following the merger of Kirkham Town and Wesham and adopted the current name in 2008 after winning the FA Vase, where as Kirkham and Wesham they beat Lowestoft Town 2-1 at Wembley.
Between 2006 and 2017, the club won five promotions to rise from the West Lancashire League to the National League. AFC Fylde reached the promotion play-offs in their first two seasons at step 1, losing to Borehamwood in the quarter-finals then missing out on promotion to the Football League with a 0-3 defeat to Salford City. However, they returned to Wembley two weeks later and beat Leyton Orient 1-0 in the FA Trophy Final in front of a crowd of nearly 43,000. In doing so they became the first, and so far only, side to win both the FA Trophy and FA Vase.
However, Fylde were relegated after the covid interrupted 2019/20 season and spent three seasons back in National League North before returning to the National League. An 18th place finish was achieved in 2023/24 after spending most of the season in the relegation zone, but last season Fylde finished 23rd to return to National League North for this season.
AFC Fylde This Season
Buxton came into today’s match in 2th position with a 18-3-5 record and were 5 points behind leaders South Shields but with a game in hand. Away from home they were 10-1-2 with the away defeats coming at Scarborough Athletic ( 1-2 ) and Kidderminster Harriers ( 0-1 ), with the draw being at Radcliffe ( 3-3 ). Home defeats had been suffered at the hands of Worksop Town ( 2-3 ), South Shields ( 2-4 ) and Buxton ( 1-2 ).
Since the defeat at Kidderminster, Fylde were on an unbeaten run of four games, with three wins and a draw.
In the FA Cup Fylde progressed past step 3 Bamber Bridge with a 4-1 home win, but exited the competition in a replay at Darlington, losing 1-3 after a 2-2 home draw.
Fylde were enjoying a good run in the FA Trophy and will host Southport in the last 16. A 3-2 win at Spennymoor was followed by two penalty shoot- out successes away from home, overcoming National League Solihull Moors 9-8 after a 2-2 draw in the Midlands, and 4-3 over Hereford United after another 2-2 draw.
Fylde’s average attendance so far this season was 1,072, the 14th best in the division, compared to Oxford City’s 650. Their highest attendance for a league match was 2,273 for the visit of Chorley on Boxing Day.
AFC Fylde Squad
Home grown 19 year old striker Danny Omerod was Fylde’s the top scorer and third in the Division with 18 goals, followed by winger Luca Thomas on 12 goals. Thomas joined Fylde in the summer after being released by Leeds United, having played in the National League on loan for Halifax Town and York City.
Winger Jonathan Ustabasi was the only survivor from the side that played at Court Place Farm two seasons ago and had scored 8 times this season, and midfielder Danny Mayor, who had played 499 in the Football League in a career spanning Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle, Bury and Fleetwood Town, had found the net 5 times.
Midfielder Chris Merrie was ex-Wigan Athletic and Tranmere Rovers whilst defender and captain Corey Whelan was a former Ireland under 21 international and had played for Yeovil, Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Carlisle United as well as Phoenix Rising in the second tier USL Championship in the USA.
Keeper Zac Jones was from New Zealand and featured in these diaries playing for Haverfordwest Town in the Europa Conference against Shkendija in July 2023, Irish full-back Alex Healy-Byrne joined from Burnley Under 21s, and midfielder Tom Whelan, no relation to Corey, had twice appeared in these diaries as a Borehamwood player, and had also played for Chesterfield, Eastleigh, Weymouth and Solihull Moors amongst others.
Centre-back Max Taylor had played in the Football League for Rochdale and Morecambe, midfielder Ethan Mitchell had played for Plymouth Argyle, and midfielder George Wilson was previously with Altrincham as was left-back Liam Brockbank.
Fylde’s manager was Craig Mahon, who had a long career playing mostly for Vauxhall Motors, Chester and Curzon Ashton, and was in his first season in charge at Fylde.
Previous Meetings
The two sides met for the first time in National League North in 2014/15. Fylde won both encounters, with an incredible 8-1 victory at Marsh Lane, but the return was much closer, with Fylde edging to a 2-1 home win.
The next meetings were in the 2023/24 National League and Fatbear was present to report on a 3-0 victory for The Hoops. However, Fylde got revenge with a 2-1 victory in the return.
The two teams met on the opening day of this season, when Oxford City took a 2-0 through goals from Tom Scott and Zac McEachran but Fylde fought back to win the match 3-2, thanks to two goals from Ustabasi and one from Mayor, both of whom were substitutes.
Matchday Information
According to AA Route Planner, Buxton’s journey to Oxford was 200 miles via the M6 and M40, which would normally take around two hours 20 minutes. Around 30 noisy Fylde fans gathered behind the goal their side was attacking in the second half, and there were a few more dotted around the ground.
Tickets for today’s game were £13 for adults online and £16 at the turnstile. There were a whole range of reductions depending on ages, from seniors to children.
An online programme was available and a cup of tea cost £2.50.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off time was dry and overcast with the temperature at 8 degrees
Bet365 made Fylde 3/5 favourites, with Oxford City at 7/2 and the draw at 29/10.
Fylde were unchanged from the side that beat Scarborough Athletic but Oxford City made 5 changes to the side that lost at Macclesfield, including three debutants, Maxted, Humphries and Aaron Harper-Bailey, whilst Zac McEachran and DJ Campton-Sturridge returned after illness
Fylde were playing in yellow shirts with black shorts and socks whilst Oxford City were in their usual blue and white hoops.
Match Report
The game started quietly until a long ball out of the Fylde defence sailed over the head of Harper-Bailey forcing Maxted, aka The Pink Panther, to come out of his area and put the ball out for a throw before Ormerod could get to it. From the throw some neat passing enabled Thomas to run ran and shoot left-footed from the edge of the Oxford City area, forcing Maxted into a fine diving save, moving to his right to push the shot away for a corner. Tom Whelan’s delivery was missed by everyone and went out of play for a goal-kick.
With 6 minutes played, the visitors won a free-kick wide on the left, which was taken by Tom Whelan, and McEachran’s wild swing to clear only sent the ball off for a throw-in by the corner flag.
A minute later, Ormerod dispossessed Humphries near the opposite corner but Harper-Bailey won it back for The Hoops with a good tackle. Shortly after, Harper-Bailey took a very heavy touch, enabling Tom Whelan to block an attempted clearance but fortunately for the centre-back the ball rebounded away for an Oxford City throw-in.
Fylde were on top in the early stages and were passing the ball around nicely, with Oxford City barely in the game. After good hold-up play by Ormerod, Merrie shot left-footed from just outside the Oxford City area but Maxted made an easy save. After more good skill from Ormerod, Wilson saw his effort from just inside the area bravely blocked by Darnell Johnson.
Out of the blue Oxford City had their first attack in the 17th minute. George Burroughs won a header ahead of Brockbank inside the Fylde half and put Alfie Potter clear with just keeper Jones to beat. However, the veteran midfielder never looked like scoring, and tamely put his shot across goal and well wide of the post.
The Hoops had got a toehold back into the game and O’Shea Ellis got to the byline, but his pull-back struck a Fylde defender and rolled to the keeper before Campton-Sturridge could get to it. A minute later McEachran won the ball in midfield and found Campton-Sturridge, who ran into the Fylde area but he seemed to dive. Half-hearted penalty appeals were ignored.
At the other end, Ormerod dived to try and head Tom Whelan’s first time ball into the Oxford City, but the contact was slight and the ball went harmlessly wide. Ellis then fouled Merrie near the half-way line and although Fylde complained, the referee only spoke to Ellis and kept his cards in his pocket.
Oxford City captain Josh Ashby went on a surging run and twice exchanged passes with Campton-Sturridge, but the low ball from the byline by the Hoops forward was blocked. A minute later Ellis won possession in the centre-circle and passed to McEachran, who played a ball down the right-hand channel for Potter to chase but Potter could only get to the ball by pulling Brockbank to the floor, and the referee gave the obvious foul.
With 26 minutes on the clock, Tom Whelan went for goal with a 30-yard free-kick but Maxted made a comfortable save. Neat passing by Fylde led to Mitchell setting up Thomas, but the left-footed shot from the edge of the area flew a few feet wide.
Fylde continued to have more of the play but the final ball was lacking. An Oxford City break involving McEachran and Ashby saw Campton-Sturridge run into the Fylde area only to be crowded out, and the ball went through to keeper Jones.
Wilson then passed to Thomas to run into the Oxford City area, but again the winger’s shot was weak and Maxted went to ground to make a regulation save. Three minutes before the break Thomas did well to control a raking cross-field ball, but then undid the good work by crossing towards the burger bar behind the goal.
The first yellow card of the match was shown in the 43rd minute after Ashby slid into Ormerod in middle of the Oxford City half.
McEachran won possession and passed to Ellis, who made a strong run towards the Fylde goal, but his dipping 25 yarder went just over the bar.
In the third minute of first half added time, play was scrappy from an Oxford City throw-in before McEachran played in Campton-Sturridge, but the fierce shot from a narrow angle was pushed away by Jones at his near post for a corner. Ashby sent the ball across the goalmouth and Harper-Bailey made a great run to meet the ball 6 yards out, but unfortunately for the home side, his header was mistimed and went closer to the corner flag than the goal. It was a great chance that should have been buried. Instead, it was 0-0 at half-time, just like last night’s rugby match between Chinnor and Ealing Trailfinders !
Fylde made a change at half-time, bringing on Ustabasi for Wilson, and almost immediately Thomas fizzed a low drive across the goalmouth and narrowly wide. Ustabasi then got past Humphries and his cross eventually reached Merrie, whose 20 yard shot was punched away by Maxted.
Four minutes into the half, a cross from Ustabasi could have been caught at his near post by Maxted, but the keeper decided to punch and put his defence under pressure, although a throw-in near the corner was won.
Thomas executed a Cruyff turn on the edge of the Oxford City area but Ashby was back to win the ball and was then fouled by Thomas.
In the 51st minute Mitchell turned and shot from 20 yards but his effort was straight at Maxted who held the shot. Two minutes later Campton-Sturridge did well to hold up the ball under pressure from two Fylde defenders and laid back to McEachran, who threaded a pass for Ellis to charge at the Fylde backline, but after being tackled, the ball hit the referee, who stopped play and gave a drop-ball to the defending team.
Interplay between Ashby and Ellis led to Campton-Sturridge being given the chance to shoot but his low shot was meat and drink for Jones.
A minute later an awful back pass from Humphries forced Maxted to retrieve the ball by the corner flag, and after Fylde gained possession from his clearance, Burroughs fouled Thomas to stop any danger and was shown the second yellow card of the game. Tom Whelan took the free-kick close to the left-hand touchline and Potter headed it back to him, and Clark conceded a first corner of the match for Fylde.
A scrum of players gathered around keeper Maxted and as the keeper struggled to punch the in-swinging corner away, the referee blew for a foul on the keeper.
With 59 minutes played the home side appealed for a handball penalty after the ball appeared to hit the arm of Corey Whelan, but the referee determined the arm was in a natural position and play continued, and as Fylde moved into the Hoops half, Johnson illegally brought the move to an end and became the next player to see Yellow.
Ashby won possession in the Oxford City half and found McEachran, who played a pass that put Clark clear. The midfielder ran into the Fylde area and then calmly shot left-footed across goal and inside the far post to open the scoring. It was 1-0 with 61 minutes on the clock.
Fylde’s response was for Tom Whelan to attempt a shot from the angle of the penalty area, but his attempt went off for a throw-in to Oxford City. Fylde were soon back on the attack and Harper-Bailey produced a good header from a cross from the left-wing, and Whelan’s radar was again off course as his shot went out of the ground.
Substitute Mayor saw a shot punched away by Maxted and Ustabasi completely missed the ball with an attempted bicycle kick to the rebound.
Oxford City were still a threat and after a good long cross-field free-kick from Johnson, Clark pushed the ball past Healy-Byrne and hit the deck but the referee waved away the appeals for a penalty.
With 15 minutes remaining, Maxted’s punch under pressure was weak, but the follow-up from Thomas was bravely blocked by Clark. City went down the other end and Parker slipped a pass for McEachran to cross from the byline. Potter couldn’t get his head to the cross, which fell to Clark, whose shot was blocked for a corner.
Parker headed on Ashby’s corner at the near post, and keeper Jones punched away for another corner for The Hoops. Ashby’s second corner was cleared as far as Clark, who put the ball back into the mixer, but Fylde were again able to clear.
The home side were still searching for a second goal and a flowing move saw Parker receive the ball inside the Fylde area, but the Antiguan forward was crowded out.
Fylde were now struggling to create any chances and a good tackle by Burroughs on Ustabasi resulted in the Fylde man giving away a free-kick.
The Hoops looked to hit on the break but Jones came out of his area to get to a long pass ahead of Potter, and cleared onto the ring-road. The referee brandished two more yellow cards in quick succession but it wasn’t clear who the recipients were !
With a few drops of rain starting to fall, a Fylde cross from the left-wing bounced through for Maxted to gather. With 6 added minutes to be played, a City counter-attack saw Clark feed Parker, whose first time wall-pass was latched onto by Ellis bursting into the Coasters’ area but his goal bound effort was blocked. Bearne got to the loose ball but could only cross straight to Jones.
Fylde were reduced to hopeful crosses into the Oxford City but Maxted was up to the task, with one punch away and two catches, and Harper-Bailey made a good defensive header to concede a corner.
The home supporters celebrated the final whistle, and the much needed three points took the Hoops out of the bottom four. Fylde remained in 2nd place in the table.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TTM4-Otu30
Oxford City : Maxted – Burroughs, Johnson, Harper-Bailey, Humphries ( Roddy ) – Potter, Ellis, Ashby, McEachran ( Bearne ), Clark – Campton-Sturridge ( Parker )
AFC Fylde : Jones – Healy-Byrne, Taylor, C Whelan, Taylor, Brockbank– Wilson ( Ustabasi ), T Whelan, Merrie ( Hunter ), Mitchell ( Mayor ) – Ormerod, Thomas
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