Oxford City 0-2 Marine; Enterprise NLN; Saturday 21st February 2026
Max Ledson reports from the MGroup Stadium…
Marine picked up an important 2–0 win away to Oxford City in the National League North at The MGroup Stadium.
The Mariners started quickly and were given a great chance to go ahead in the 3rd minute when they won a penalty after a foul on Charlie Jolley. George Newell stepped up, but his effort hit the post and stayed out.
After that early moment, the game became fairly quiet, with neither side creating many chances but the visitors seeing more of the ball. Marine made their pressure count on the half-hour mark. A good team move ended with Matty McDonald’s clever backheel finding Charlie Jolley in the box, and he calmly finished to give Marine the lead at half-time.
At the break, Marine made a change as Offrande Zanzala replaced Josh Wardle, who had been struggling with an injury picked up in the first half.
The second half started similarly to the end of the first with neither side able to fashion many chances.
Oxford’s best chance of the game came in the 63rd minute when George Burroughs headed goalwards from a corner, but Fraser Barnsley reacted well to make an excellent reaction save.
There were few opportunities after that until Marine doubled their lead in the 83rd minute. Joe Ashby delivered a great free kick into the area and Zanzala was in the right place to tap home from close range.
Marine managed the final minutes comfortably, keeping Oxford quiet and seeing out the game to secure all three points.
Oxford City: Metcalfe, Burroughs, Wiggett, Harper-Bailey, Humphries (Roddy 58), Potter, Bearne (Daniel 64), McFarlane, Parker.
Unused subs: Treml, Wilson, Scott, Kauan.
Marine: Fraser Barnsley, Adam Thomas, Josh Wardle (Offrande Zanzala 46’), Adam Anson, Joe Ashton, Leigh Whelan, Sam Fielding, Matty McDonald (Lewis Bell 45’), Charlie Jolley, George Newell (James Potter 81’) Fin Sinclair-Smith
Unused subs: Jack McIntyre, Harry Huby, Jed Abbey.
Attendance: 613