Match Preview: Brackley v City

After a pre-season build-up lasting 4 weeks, Cambridge City eventually start their 2010/11 campaign this Saturday with a tough opening game at Brackley Town.

City go into the game with one defeat in their pre-season preparations, which came at the hands of Farnborough last weekend in the Southern League Championship Trophy match.

Gary Roberts has added several new faces during the summer, and is likely to start the campaign with a squad of 17 players. New additions at Milton Road during the closed season are David Kolodynski, Joey Abbs, Declan Rogers, Liam Nicell, Craig Hammond and John Sands. Milton Elenge who was with the club towards the end of last season has also agreed terms with the Lilywhites.

Three of the new additions are strikers, meaning that it gives Gary Roberts plenty of options up front this season where before his choices in attack were somewhat limited.

City take on a Brackley side packed with experience. Joining the ranks at St James Park over the summer have been the likes of goalkeeper Billy Turley who comes in from Oxford United, where he made over 150 appearances. Also added to the squad are defensive/midfield duo of Michael Blackwood who was with Mansfield and Tamworth and former Coventry City and Oxford United star Barry Quinn. City fans will also remember Jon Challinor playing for the Lilywhites, and he will be lining-up against his former side on Saturday after signing from Mansfield Town.

One of the new recruits missing for Brackley will be centre forward and former Oxford and Preston star Steve Basham who suffered a collapsed lung in a pre-season encounter at Cogenhoe.

Despite the absence of Basham, it's evident for all to see that Brackley manager Jon Brady has invested big over the summer, and with the experience he has assembled it surely makes the Saints one of the favourites for the title.

City though shouldn't be overawed by the occasion and history points to similar opening day encounters when they have taken on sides with experience and labelled as pre-season favourites. A win at big spending Weymouth is a prime example at the start of season 2004/05 as well as victory at Havant & Waterlooville to begin the 06/07 campaign.

The team news for City is that Neil Midgley is still out following the injury he sustained at Newmarket in pre-season, and John Sands is suspended after getting sent off in the Cambs Invitation Cup Final for Mildenhall at the end of last season.

All other players should be available meaning that David Kolodynski and Craig Hammond should partner each other in attack. Adie Cambridge is available again after missing the latter end of pre-season and John Kennedy should be OK after coming through unscathed last Saturday at Farnborough following a back injury he picked up 4 days earlier at Royston.

City will be assured of a good following at St James Park, and if you are not going to the game, then regular updates will be posted on the message board throughout the afternoon, together with live updates on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

For those who are going, don't forget to get your views heard on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire afterwards. Text 07786 201960, or call the phone-in on 08459 252000.

Last year:
31/08/09: Brackley 0 City 0
26/12/09: City 5 Brackley 0