The huge impact of Aliyah Anthony being promoted to Head of Women’s Football at Oxford City can not be overstated, but it meant that new coaches had to be brought in to take over her First Team side.
Luke Hanshaw, formerly at MK Dons Women, was appointed in July, stating “I am really excited to work with the players and staff on what will be an exciting journey.” Thus far, he has received a lot of praise from staff and players, with defender Georgia Healy remarking that Hanshaw has “brought in new ideas as well as a new work rate and ethic” into the side.
A crucial part of the reform at Oxford City was the trials held over the summer, which not only involved those who had previously played for the First and U23 teams, but also a wealth of new players.
Although this allowed Anthony, Hanshaw, and new Development Team manager Chris Smith to pick the best players for their respective sides, it meant that their pre-season was cut short, and the teams had less time to bond with each other and get used to new management.
This may be reflected in the fact that the season did not get off to the ideal start, with a 3-1 away loss against Eastleigh back in September. It did not take long for Hanshaw’s side to get points on the board however, with a 2-2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers the following week.
It wasn’t until 1st October, however, that they managed to find winning ways. This was a win to remember as they slaughtered Slough Town 9-0 in the Cup. This was huge for striker Ellie White’s campaign as she scored 6 in the fixture, which played a huge part in her current position as the top goal scorer.
Speaking to White about this achievement, she stated, “I never thought at the start of the season I would be top goal scorer!”. Looking forward, she holds hope that this will continue.
This high-scoring fixture also played a huge role in City’s goal tally for the month, with October being the highest month for goals scored by a large margin, with 19 goals in just 5 games.
The week after this huge victory, the Hoops won their first league game of the campaign. In this fixture, Hanshaw’s side came from behind to claim all three points against Woodley United and begin to climb the table.
The ladies began to gain more control of their season with two 4-0 wins in the space of 3 weeks against Winchester City and Badshot Lea. Despite this success, they bowed out of the Women’s FA Cup between these fixtures, with a heavy 5-0 blow against Ebbsfleet United.
Since then, they have only lost 3 games. A positive start to 2024 saw the Hoops draw against Wycombe Wanderers (2-2) and win 3-0 against Kidlington Youth.
Here’s a look ahead at the rest of Hanshaw’s season…
With 4 league games remaining, the Hoops have a potential 12 points on the line. Although Ascot United (29 pts) and Bournemouth Sports (26 pts) seem to have a strong grasp at the top of the table, Woodley United sit just 2 points ahead of City in third, making the bronze spot well within Hanshaw’s reach.
The closing stages of the league hold even more significance due to the current mid-table standings. City, Wycombe Wanderers, and Eastleigh in the Community all sit on 16 points, with Warminster Town just below on 15, meaning goal difference could be crucial come April.
The County Cup also remains a focus for the Hoops, with Hanshaw’s side due to take on Oxford University AFC Women’s First Team on the 3rd March.
There are also some individual successes within the side which the team will be aiming to maintain. Not only do City have the top scorer in the league in Ellie White, but Emily Harris sits just below her on 15 goals so far this season.
Looking forward to next season, the possibility of promotion is looking evermore likely for Hanshaw’s side. Healy stated that “We’re going to keep pushing until we get to that point,” reflecting the strive to develop within the club, and hinting at the possible future success.