WORCESTER City make their first away trip of the Vanarama Conference North season when they travel to Oxford City tonight (Tuesday).
Carl Heeley’s side head south to Marsh Lane on the back of an opening-day 2-2 draw with Stalybridge Celtic, which saw no fewer than six players make their City debuts.
One of those, Nick Wright, will be looking to follow up the two goals he bagged on Saturday (August 9) with fellow new boy Daniel Udoh’s impressive second half display pushing him towards a starting berth.
The Blue and Whites will be hoping for better fortunes this term against their Oxfordshire rivals, following a 0-0 draw at Marsh Lane last season and a 2-0 loss in the reverse fixture at Aggborough.
The game will also see a quick return for former Oxford striker Mike Symons, who left Worcester last summer to join Justin Merritt’s men, before heading back to the Faithful City this season.
Speaking after the Stalybridge game, manager Heeley said: “We’ll get a report back from Oxford and try and set ourselves up based on that report.
“With the 18 or so players we’ve got in this squad they’re all capable lads and bring something different, but I’m comfortable whichever 11 will be good enough.
“Whether it be at Aggborough or away we will always go to win a game of football and never go to shut up shop or grind out a draw and that starts at our first away trip to Oxford, we’ll go to win the game.
“I don’t know if Symons will have anything to prove because he’s quite a laid back lad. I’m sure he’ll go back to Oxford and want to win a game for Worcester City.”
Merritt’s side only avoided relegation last season due to Vauxhall Motors slide into administration, after they finished in 20th place with just 37 points.
There is cause for optimism this time out, however, and a 1-0 victory at relegated Hyde FC gave them an ideal start.