THE successful run of Oxford City in the FA Cup must be hard to stomach for Witney Town players and supporters.

Great rivals for the claim to being the top non-league side in the county, the clubs have been neck and neck in that race, right up to the final FA Cup qualifier when Town bowed out in gallant fashion to Yeovil.

Despite City's defeat in their unprecedented third tie with Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night, the Oxford club have had a marvellous Cup run and made quite a few bob in the process.

Their fans will have been delighted their team played 'at home' at last - the second replay was at Oxford United's Manor Ground - and the venue gave supporters of other clubs in the area the opportunity to go and cheer the lads in the blue and white hoops.

Witney had more than a passing interest in City's progress, with old Town favourites Shaun Wimble and Tate Hulbert in the action - but of more concern for manager Andy Lyne will be how Witney pick up their own season.

Certainly the businesslike Lyne has not let the grass grow under his feet in an effort to take Witney to new heights in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division. His clear aim is a place in the Premier Division.

Club chairman Brian Constable has already voiced his concern over the distances the team has to travel in their league, and has suggested a possible swtitch to the Ryman League where local derbies could add spice to the fixture list.

But Andy Lyne - perhaps more ambitious and with a Dr Martens Premiership place as his goal - is consistently working towards improving the set-up at Marriotts Stadium, both on and off the field.

Last week he recruited the experienced midfielder Darren Watts (ex Oxford City and Brackley Town) who has returned to the area from playing and coaching in New Jersey. He has also appointed Brian Smith, who has managed a host of local clubs, as Town's head of scouting.

Smith, whose last management job came to an end when he was sacked by Abingdon Town last season, will be responsible for reporting on forthcoming opposition as well as recommending potential players from both higher and lower levels. He will also liaise with the club's youth development staff.

Lyne said: "Brian has a vast level of experience at all levels and has a good eye for a player. He has reported on the opposition for me on a number of occasions this season and last, and his assessments have always proved spot on.

"We are delighted to have someone of his calibre on board ."

Lyne sees this appointment as another step in strengthening the structure at the club - but if he wants Premiership football, he will need Constable to come up with some cash.

Witney may well lose their prolific striker Carl Henry before the end of the year, and that would be a huge blow as he has netted 19 times already this season.

Without his goals, Town would not have been in the top six in the table, although Lyne will quite rightly point out they are by no means a one-man team.

Henry's latest admirers are said to be Queen's Park Rangers, who were expected to have someone watching him at Chelmsford on Saturday.

Others who have made enquiries about the 26-year-old are Oxford United, Reading, Crystal Palace and Cheltenham.

One of them will probably take a chance that Henry's precocious talent will blossom at a higher level - which will leave Witney having to find a quality replacement who will help them to the Dr Martens Premier League.

They will have to do that without any money from the sale of Henry as the player is not on a contract with Witney - which leaves the club in something of a dilemma

HAVE the Football Association gone mad? One of the 20 losing clubs in the FA Cup second round will be given a second chance under a bizarre ruling to cover for the withdrawal of Manchester United from the competition.

The FA have created a wild card which means all the losing teams from the second round will go into a separate draw to get a place in the third round.

It's one of the FA's daftest decisions yet - and it should be rescinded immediately.

Story date: Wednesday 17 November

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