Prediction League Game 42; Oxford Utd (home)

Div3North · 13-04-2011, 01:08

Accrington Stanley

V

Oxford United

Prediction League – Game 42; v Oxford Utd (home)

Dabbling in the transfer and loan markets over the past three months saw strikers Jack Midson (once of Histon) – who hit 10 goals in his 58 games with the U’s - go to Barnet on loan (where he’s stayed longer than Martin Allen did

) and Matt Green go to Cheltenham (“I live near there – it was a no-brainer”

); defender Mark Creighton joined Wrexham on a free, and three others have been shown the “you can find another club” door already

; in came Welsh u21 Southampton striker Ryan Doble on loan (probably a better move than the month before, when he went to Stockport on loan

); 20 year old Swansea defender Jamie Grimes; 26 year old Colchester winger Simon Hackney (who had a spell at Morecambe last season); ex Aberdeen striker Steven McLean, loaned by Plymouth; French defender Djoumin Sangare, who left York and nearly joined Casablance (“Play it again, Sam ……….” – which Bogart never actually said in the movie

); and Doncaster’s midfielder Ryan Burge (ex Birmingham, Barnet, Oita Trinita of Japan and Jerez Industrial CF, which is Glenn Hoddle’s Youth Academy for the Terminally Failed

). 3 out, 6 in – mostly forwards; they need them – 60 goals in 45 games (including the Cups) isn’t going to get you promoted ………..

Their away record is W6 D6 L8 F24 A30; overall it’s P41 W16 D9 L16 F54 A54 for 57 points and 11th place; you’d have to think they’re too far away to make the end of season, but that doesn’t necessarily stop them spoiling someone else’s party.

Since March 1st they’ve won 3, drawn 1 and lost 4; beating Port Vale away 2-1, Crewe at home by the same score, and Burton Albion 3-0, also at home, was as good as it got; a 2-2 draw at home to Wycombe involved surrendering a 2 goal lead, and defeats at Bury (2-0), Lincoln (3-1) and Stockport (2-1) were matched by a home loss to Stevenage, also 2-1. They lasted no time in the cup competitions – out of the JPT 2-0 at Aldershot in the first game, and the FA Cup 1-0 at Burton in Round 1, their only success was a Carling first round thrashing of Bristol Rovers by 6-1, followed by a 1-0 reverse at West Ham in Round 2.

They don’t score shed-loads; none in 16 games – including their home game with us in late August, one in ten games, and 2 twelve times tells its own story; four three-goal matches, two fours (against Morecambe 4-0 and Torquay 4-3) and one 6 don’t add enough to make them a consistent threat; leading scorers are Captain Constable with 15, Tom Craddock (bought from Luton in August) with 14, the departed Jack Midson with 7 and loan striker Steven McLean (this is his second spell there) with 6; 8 others have contributed with 1, 2, 3 or – in the case of midfielder Simon Heslop (released by Barnsley last year, having played on loan at most of the teams north of Watford) – 5.

The deadline for entries is, as ever, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3pm on Saturday 16th April. So ; here’s one where the bragging rights are up for grabs, since our only previous League meeting ended goalless! Who'll net our first goal against them?

Big win? Thumping loss? 6-6 thriller? We don’t really care (unless we’re one of the diminshing number of people whoi could still win the season ticket) as long as we get 3 points ………….. Your guess …………… Our prize!

Good luck to everyone ………… and thanks for playing!